The interpretation timeline

Ps 52:2

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

1 Patristic · 1 Jewish · 2 Catholic

Ps 52:2 · Douay-Rheims
“They are corrupted, and become abominable in iniquities: there is none that doth good.”
Patristic before A.D. 750
430
A.D.
Augustine of Hippo Patristic
A.D. 354–430
“Let us advert also to that sense, which concerning Christ our Lord Himself, our Head Himself, doth present itself. For when Himself in form of a servant appeared on earth, they that crucified Him said, "He is not God." Because Son of God He was, truly God He was. But they that are corrupted and have become abominable said what? "He is not God:" let us slay Him, "He is not God." Thou hast the voice of these very men in the book of Wisdom. For after there had gone before the verse, "The unwise man hath said in his heart, There is no God ;" as if reasons were required why the unwise man could say this, he hath subjoined, "Corrupted they are, and abominable have become in their iniquities" (ver. 2). Hear ye those corrupted men. "For they have said with themselves, not rightly thinking:" corruption beginneth with evil belief, thence it proceedeth to depraved morals, thence to the most flagrant iniquities, these are the grades. But what with themselves said they, thinking not rightly? "A small thing and with tediousness is our life." From this evil belief followeth that which also the Apostle hath spoken of, "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die." But in the former passage more diffusely luxury itself is described: "Let us crown us with roses, before they be withered; in every place let us leave the tokens of our gladness." After the more diffuse description of that luxury, what followeth? "Let us slay the poor just man:" this is therefore saying, "He is not God." Soft words they seemed but now to say: "Let us crown us with roses, before they be withered." What more delicate, what more soft? Wouldest thou expect, out of this softness, Crosses, swords? Wonder not, soft are even the roots of brambles; if any one handle them, he is not pricked: but that wherewith thou shall be pricked from thence hath birth. "Corrupted," therefore, are those men, "and abominable have become in their iniquities." They say, "If Son of God He is, let Him come down from the Cross." Behold them openly saying, "He is not God." ...”
Source
675 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
Scholastic c. 1100 – 1500
1105
A.D.
Rashi Jewish
1040–1105
“The fool said in his heart This is Titus; when he cut into the curtain and his sword was dripping with blood, he said that he had killed [God] Himself.”
169 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
1274
A.D.
Thomas Aquinas Catholic
1225–1274
“"He has looked down from heaven." Here the judgment of God against the wicked is set forth. And first the consideration of the judge is introduced. Second, what the judge finds is shown: "All have turned aside." Third, the sentence is added: "Shall they not know?" The reason they deny God is that they believe that because of his loftiness God does not look upon the lowest things. Job 22: "Do you not think that God is higher than heaven?" etc. "You say, what? He judges through the darkness; he walks about the poles of heaven; and he does not consider our affairs." But it pertains to the perfection of his wisdom that he looks upon all things. Ps.: "Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high and looks upon the lowly in heaven and on earth?" And therefore he says that "the Lord has looked down from heaven," that is, he considers "the children of men" from his loftiness. Sir. 16: "What is my soul in so vast a creation?" Prov. 16: "All the ways of man are open to his eyes." Ps.: "The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the earth." Or "from heaven," that is, from Christ. Or from the soul of the just man. He inquires among the children of men "to see if there is one who understands, or who seeks God." There is a difference between God and man: human judges inquire into what is done outwardly, but God looks upon the heart. Ps.: "God searches the hearts and minds."”
Source
1274
A.D.
Thomas Aquinas Catholic
1225–1274
“"In the heart." There are two things that must be done concerning God, namely that the intellect be fixed inwardly upon the knowledge of God and that the affection tend toward God as toward its end. Hence he says he looks down in order to see "if there is understanding." And if it is understood of the just man, in sweetness correcting; but if it is understood of the wicked man, as it is said of him, "he would not understand in order to act well," so it is "seeking," namely, intending to bring him to himself. Ps.: "Seek the Lord, and your soul shall live," etc. But the Lord, looking down to see this, finds malice abounding.”
Source
Modern · 1953 →

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.