Psalms — Chapter 142

ET NON INTRES IN IUDICIUM CUM SERVO TUO. Lapide: Psalm 142 — the seventh and last penitential psalm. "And enter not into judgment with Thy servant: for in Thy sight no man living shall be justified." Quoted by Paul in Rom. 3:20 and Gal. 2:16 in the discussion of justification: no man is justified by works before God's strict tribunal. Lapide carefully distinguishes: this verse does not abolish the doctrine of merit (which is real but always depends on divine grace as its first cause); it only insists that no creature can stand before God's strict justice as though claiming a right independent of grace and mercy.