Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion
(In finem. Psalmus David. Canticum Jeremiae et Ezechielis populi transmigrationis, cum inciperent exire.)
Verse 1
Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion; et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem.
A hymn, O God, befits you in Sion; and to you shall a vow be paid in Jerusalem.
Word Notes
- decet, decere, decuit (2nd conj., impersonal) – it is fitting, it befits
- hymnus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – hymn, song of praise
- Deus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – God
- reddetur – reddo, reddere, reddidi, redditum (3rd conj.) – shall be rendered, paid
- votum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – vow, promise
- Jerusalem (indecl.) – Jerusalem
Verse 2
Exaudi orationem meam; ad te omnis caro veniet.
Hear my prayer; all flesh shall come to you.
Word Notes
- exaudi, -ire, -ivi, -itum (4th conj.) – hear favourably
- oratio, -onis (f., 3rd decl.) – prayer
- caro, carnis (f., 3rd decl.) – flesh, humankind
- veniet – venio, venire, veni, ventum (4th conj.) – shall come
Verse 3
Verba iniquorum praevaluerunt super nos; et impietatibus nostris tu propitiaberis.
The words of the wicked have prevailed over us; but you will forgive our iniquities.
Word Notes
- verbum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – word
- iniquus, -a, -um – unjust, wicked
- praevaleo, praevalere, praevalui (2nd conj.) – to prevail, overpower
- impietas, -atis (f., 3rd decl.) – sin, ungodliness
- propitiaberis – propitior, propitiari, propitiatus sum (1st conj., deponent) – you will be merciful, forgive
Verse 4
Beatus quem elegisti et assumpsisti; inhabitabit in atriis tuis.
Blessed is the one whom you have chosen and taken to yourself; he shall dwell in your courts.
Word Notes
- beatus, -a, -um – blessed, happy
- elegisti – eligo, eligere, elegi, electum (3rd conj.) – you have chosen
- assumpsisti – assumo, assumere, assumpsi, assumptum (3rd conj.) – you have taken up
- inhabitabit – inhabito, habitare, habitavi, habitatum (1st conj.) – he shall dwell
- atrium, -ii (n., 2nd decl.) – court, hall
Verse 5
Replebimur in bonis domus tuae; sanctum est templum tuum, mirabile in aequitate.
We shall be filled with the good things of your house; your holy temple is wonderful in righteousness.
Word Notes
- replebimur – repleo, replere, replevi, repletum (2nd conj.) – we shall be filled
- bonus, -a, -um – good
- domus, -us (f., 4th decl.) – house
- templum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – temple
- mirabilis, -e (3rd decl. adj.) – wonderful, admirable
- aequitas, -atis (f., 3rd decl.) – righteousness, fairness
Verse 6
Exaudi nos, Deus salutaris noster, spes omnium finium terrae, et in mari longe.
Hear us, O God our Saviour, hope of all the ends of the earth, and of those far away on the sea.
Word Notes
- salutaris, -is (adj. 3rd decl.) – saving, delivering
- spes, -ei (f., 5th decl.) – hope
- finis, -is (m., 3rd decl.) – end, limit
- mare, -is (n., 3rd decl.) – sea
- longe (adv.) – far off
Verse 7
Praeparans montes in virtute tua, accinctus potentia.
You prepare the mountains by your strength, girded with power.
Word Notes
- praeparo, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to prepare
- mons, montis (m., 3rd decl.) – mountain
- virtus, -utis (f., 3rd decl.) – strength, might
- accinctus – accingo, accingere, accinxi, accinctum (3rd conj.) – girded, armed
- potentia, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – power
Verse 8
Qui conturbas profundum maris sonum fluctuum eius. Turbabuntur gentes.
You disturb the depth of the sea, the noise of its waves. The nations shall be troubled.
Word Notes
- conturbo, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to stir up, disturb
- profundum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – deep, depth
- sonus, -us (m., 4th decl.) – sound, noise
- fluctus, -us (m., 4th decl.) – wave
- turbo, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to disturb, trouble
- gens, gentis (f., 3rd decl.) – nation, people
Verse 9
Et timebunt qui habitant terminos tuos a signis tuis; exitus matutini et vespere delectabis.
And those who dwell at your borders shall fear your signs; you shall gladden the outgoings of morning and evening.
Word Notes
- habitant – habito, habitare, habitavi, habitatum (1st conj.) – they dwell
- terminus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – boundary, limit
- signum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – sign, wonder
- exitus, -us (m., 4th decl.) – going forth, rising (of sun)
- matutinus, -a, -um – of morning
- vesper, -eris (m., 3rd decl.) – evening
- delectabis – delecto, delectare, delectavi, delectatum (1st conj.) – you will delight, gladden
Verse 10
Visitasti terram et inebriasti eam; multiplicasti locupletare eam. Flumen Dei repletum est aquis.
You have visited the earth and watered it; you have multiplied your riches upon it. The river of God is filled with waters.
Word Notes
- visito, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to visit, attend to
- inebrio, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to drench, water
- multiplico, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to multiply
- locupleto, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to enrich, make fruitful
- flumen, -inis (n., 3rd decl.) – river
- aqua, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – water
Verse 11
Parasti cibum illorum, quoniam ita est praeparatio eius.
You have prepared their food, for thus is your provision.
Word Notes
- paro, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to prepare
- cibus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – food
- praeparatio, -onis (f., 3rd decl.) – preparation, providence
Verse 12
Rivos eius inebria multiplica genimina eius; in stillicidiis eius laetabitur germinans.
Water its channels abundantly, multiply its crops; the sprouting shall rejoice in its rain-drops.
Word Notes
- rivus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – stream, channel
- genimen, -inis (n., 3rd decl.) – growth, produce
- stillicidium, -ii (n., 2nd decl.) – rain-drop, drizzle
- germino, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to sprout, bud
Verse 13
Benedices coronam anni benignitatis tuae; et campi tui replebuntur ubertate.
You will bless the crown of your year with kindness; and your fields shall be filled with abundance.
Word Notes
- benedico, -ere, -dixi, -dictum (3rd conj.) – to bless
- corona, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – crown, circle
- benignitas, -atis (f., 3rd decl.) – kindness
- campus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – field, plain
- ubertas, -atis (f., 3rd decl.) – abundance, fertility
Verse 14
Pinguescent speciosa deserti, et exsultatione colles accingentur.
The beautiful places of the wilderness shall grow rich, and the hills shall be girded with joy.
Word Notes
- pinguesco, -ere (3rd conj.) – to grow fat, become fertile
- speciosus, -a, -um – fair, lovely
- desertum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – desert, waste place
- collis, -is (m., 3rd decl.) – hill
- accingentur – accingo, accingere, accinxi, accinctum (3rd conj.) – shall gird themselves
Verse 15
Induti sunt arietes ovium, et vallium abundabunt frumento; clamabunt, etenim hymnum dicent.
The rams are clothed with flocks, and the valleys shall abound with grain; they shall shout for joy, indeed they shall sing a hymn.
Word Notes
- induuntur – induo, induere, indui, indutum (3rd conj., passive) – are clothed
- aries, -etis (m., 3rd decl.) – ram
- ovis, -is (f., 3rd decl.) – sheep
- vallis, -is (f., 3rd decl.) – valley
- frumentum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – grain
- clamabunt – clamo, clamare, clamavi, clamatum (1st conj.) – they will shout
- dicent – dico, dicere, dixi, dictum (3rd conj.) – they will say
SUMMARY COMMENTARY
Psalm 64 celebrates the abundance of divine providence — both moral and natural. It begins in worship (Te decet hymnus) and ends in fertility: the transformation of the earth under divine blessing. The psalm moves from the temple (vv.1–5) to the cosmos (vv.6–15), expanding from Israel’s praise to universal harmony.
The imagery is agricultural but also spiritual: the river of God filled with waters symbolises grace overflowing into creation. Where Psalm 63 spoke of inner thirst, this psalm answers with rain and abundance — the fulfilment of that desire.
Psychologically, it represents the movement from austerity to fruitfulness — the “crown of the year” as a metaphor for completion and gratitude. The earth responds to divine care with song: clamabunt, etenim hymnum dicent — nature itself becomes a choir.
EXERCISES
(a) ENGLISH → LATIN TRANSLATION
Translate:
- A hymn, O God, befits you in Sion.
- Hear us, O God our Saviour.
- The earth has been filled with your blessing.
- The valleys shall abound with grain.
Key:
- Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion.
- Exaudi nos, Deus salutaris noster.
- Repleta est terra benedictione tua.
- Vallium abundabunt frumento.
(b) VERB FORM PRACTICE
Give full principal parts and meanings:
- replebimur – repleo, replere, replevi, repletum (2nd conj.) – we shall be filled
- benedices – benedico, benedicere, benedixi, benedictum (3rd conj.) – you will bless
- visito – visito, visitare, visitavi, visitatum (1st conj.) – I visit, attend
- accingentur – accingo, accingere, accinxi, accinctum (3rd conj.) – they shall gird themselves
- clamabunt – clamo, clamare, clamavi, clamatum (1st conj.) – they will shout
Conjugation Practice
Form the present, imperfect, and future indicative of repleo (2nd conj.):
| Tense | Forms |
|---|---|
| Present | repleo, reples, replet, replemus, repletis, replent |
| Imperfect | replebam, replebas, replebat, replebamus, replebatis, replebant |
| Future | replebo, replebis, replebit, replebimus, replebitis, replebunt |
Form the perfect and pluperfect of benedico (3rd conj.):
| Tense | Forms |
|---|---|
| Perfect | benedixi, benedixisti, benedixit, benediximus, benedixistis, benedixerunt |
| Pluperfect | benedixeram, benedixeras, benedixerat, benedixeramus, benedixeratis, benedixerant |
(c) REFLECTION
- How does this psalm balance the spiritual and the physical meanings of abundance?
- In what sense can rain and fertility be read as symbols of moral renewal?
- How does Psalm 64 respond to the yearning of Psalm 63, completing a cycle of thirst and fulfilment?