PSALM LXXIII (74), f. 42r.
The youthful psalmist stands on a hillock to the left of the center of the picture and raises his hands to heaven for deliverance. At the base of the hill are lions and bears, 'bestiae,' climbing towards him (verse 19). Behind him stands a group of the 'foolish people' (verse 18) or boastful people (verse 4). In the heavens are personifications of the sun and moon, and of summer and winter, the moon and winter being surrounded by stars (verses 16-17). In the extreme upper corner at the right the beardless, cross-nimbed Christ-Logos is seated upon a globe placed on the top of a high mountain (Zion). He holds a rod in His hand (verse 2) and extends it towards a group of evil-doers who are 'breaking down' the doors of the sanctuary and are setting fire to it (verses 2-3, and 5-7). 'The sheep of thy pasture' are on a ledge below the Christ-Logos (verse 1). Immediately below them is the scene of Christ's Nativity ('rex noster ... operatus est salutem in medio terrae,' verse 12). Two midwives are bathing the Christ-child to the left while at the right the Virgin is reclining on a mattress. The youthful Joseph is seated behind her. Along the entire bottom of the picture extends the sea containing serpents. A wingless angel is smiting the 'heads of the dragons in the waters' to the left (verse 13); and on the shore to the right a group of the 'populi Aethiopum ' are cutting up serpents with their swords (verse 14).
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