PSALM LXXXIV (85), f. 49v.
To the right of the center of the picture the bearded psalmist is raising his hand to heaven and addressing the beardless, cross-nimbed Christ-Logos carrying a cross-staff ('Wilt thou not revive us again?,' verse 7, (6)), and standing half revealed in the heavens with His back to, but turning His head towards the psalmist. He is attended by two angels. To the right of the psalmist two angels with cross-staffs are spreading a cover over a group of the faithful ('Thou hast covered all their sin,' verse 3, (2)). On the left in the heavens, Justice or 'righteousness,' personified, is 'looking down from heaven' and is extending her hands to take up 'truth' which is represented as a new-born babe held up by a woman (verse 12, (11)). It is really a representation of the Virgin presenting the Christ-child to Justice. This interpretation of 'truth' as Christ is found in the commentators (vide Athanasius in Migne, Patrologia Graeca, 27, col. 366). Further to the left and on the same level with the psalmist 'righteousness and peace' are kissing each other, and 'mercy and truth' are meeting (verse 11, (10)). In the lowest register are various scenes of agriculture to illustrate the passage in verse 13, (12)): '... and our land shall yield her increase.' One man is plowing, two others are cutting the grain, and two shepherds are watching the oxen and sheep which are grazing along the banks of streams issuing from springs at the sides of the picture.
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