Again, from the ninety-fifth Psalm of the words spoken by David they have removed this short saying: from the tree. For although the word was: Tell it among the Gentiles; the Lord reigned from the tree, they left only: Tell it among the Gentiles the Lord reigned.
But of no one of your nation was it ever said that he reigned among the nations, as though he were God and Lord, save of Him alone who was crucified, who also, as the Holy Ghost says in the same Psalm, rose again and has been saved, indicating that He is not like the gods of the Gentiles. For they are images of demons.
But, that you may understand what is said, I will report the whole Psalm to you. It is as follows: Sing ye to the Lord a new song; sing ye to the Lord, thou whole earth. Sing ye to the Lord, and bless His name; tell ye the good news of His salvation day after day. Announce among the nations His glory, among all the peoples His wondrous acts. For great is the Lord and to be praised exceedingly; He is terrible above all the gods. For all the gods of the nations are demons, but the Lord made the heavens. Praise and beauty are before Him, holiness and magnificence are in His sanctuary. Bring ye to the Lord, ye kindreds of the nations, bring ye to the Lord glory and honour, bring ye to the Lord glory in His name.
Take sacrifices and enter into His courts; worship the Lord in His holy court. Let all the earth be moved at His presence. Tell ye among the nations, The Lord hath reigned from the tree. For He hath also set the world fast, which shall not be moved; He shall judge peoples in uprightness. Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be glad; the sea shall be moved and the fulness thereof. The plains shall rejoice and all that are in them; all the trees of the forest shall be glad at the presence of the Lord, for He cometh, for He cometh, to judge the earth. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and peoples in His truth.
Trypho said: God alone knows whether, as you say, the rulers of the people deleted anything from the Scriptures. But such a thing seems incredible.
Yes, said I, it seems incredible. For it is more awful than the making of the golden calf, which they made in the wilderness when they were satiated with manna, and than sacrificing their children to demons, or than slaying the prophets themselves. But in truth, I said, you seem to me not even to have heard of the Scriptures which I said they had mutilated. For these many passages already stated are more than sufficient to prove the subjects of our enquiry, together with those statements which are yet to be cited, and are preserved among you.