St. Augustine of Hippo used what were the
Latin translations of the Hebrew BOOK of
the Psalms : for our Psalm 36: 6 he read
Men and beasts you will save, Lord, as your
mercy has been multiplied. . .
Augustine's exposition / commentary
on this verse [WSA 21st Century
Expositions on the Psalms, vol. III,
p. 82 :translator Maria Boulding] :
He has already said, "Your
mercy is in heaven" and now
to indicate this is on earth
as well, he says, MEN AND
BEASTS YOU WILL SAVE, LORD. . .
Great is your mercy, and manifold
is your mercy, O God, and you
give it to both humans and animals.
From whom does the salvation of
humans [Latin salus : means
'health, safety, well-being' ]
proceed? From God. Does not
the good estate of the beasts come
from God too? He who made
the animals as well, and he who
made both saves both; but the
salvation of the beasts is the safety
and health that belong within time.
Yet there are people who make a
great point of begging from God
what he has given even to animals.
Your Mercy Has Been Multiplied,
O GOD! in that you not only grant
salvation to human beings, but
give also to the beasts what you
give to humans, a carnal and
temporal salvation!
