What does the psalmist mean when he says, “You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in great measure” (Ps. 80:5)?

The answer

We hear the psalmist Asaph saying to God, “You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in great measure” (Ps. 80:5). The eightieth psalm portrays the bitterness of a broken soul whose tears fall on his bread because of the intensity of grief, so that the tears become food or drink for the soul.

St. Ambrose believes that tears must be shed by measure; there are certain limits we should not exceed lest these tears become the cause of the soul perishing. St. Paul was afraid that the repentant adulterer would perish from too much sorrow (2 Cor. 2:7). Origen says, “we do not forget this precept, where it is said, ‘By what measure you have measured, the same will be meted out to you’ (Matt. 7:2). For we also say to God, ‘You gave us a loaf of tears and you made us drink tears in a full measure’ (Ps. 79:6).”⁵²⁵ Anthimus of Jerusalem says, “Even our bread we eat with weeping, and our cup is filled with tears, as though it were fully measured, meaning that our tears are measured and valued in proportion to our iniquities.”

St. Augustine says, “Hear the Apostle: ‘God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able’ (1 Cor. 10:13). The measure is, according to your powers: the measure is, that you be instructed, not that you be crushed.”⁵²⁶

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty