From the early Church Fathers to now.
1 Patristic · 1 Jewish · 1 Catholic
“For evils without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I was not able to see. They are multiplied above the hairs of my head: and my heart hath forsaken me.”
“"Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me" [Psalm 40:13]. As if he were saying, "'If You will, You can make me clean.' [Matthew 8:2] Be pleased to deliver me. O Lord, look upon me to help me." Look, that is, on the penitent members, members that lie in pain, members that are writhing under the instruments of the surgeon; but still in hope.”
“have encompassed Heb. אפפו, have surrounded.”
“"May it please you, O Lord." Here the prayer is presented explicitly. And first he makes the prayer explicit with regard to himself. Second, with regard to the wicked, at "Let them be confounded." Third, with regard to the good, at "Let them exult and rejoice." With regard to himself, he asks to be rescued from evils: Sir. 51: "He delivers those who wait for him." And to be helped in obtaining good things; because through your providence, help is given to me. And this not from my merit, but from your good pleasure. Hence he says, "May it please you." The dignity of the persons is designated with regard to his adversaries when he says, "That you may rescue me" from evils, or wicked men, or sins. And note that he says, "May it please you," not distrusting in the mercy of God; as if to say, if you will, you can; and therefore he says, "Look to help me," namely in the doing of good; as if to say, look upon the penitent in their sorrow. The regard of God is our help.”
The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.