Jubilate Deo, omnis terra
(In finem. Canticum Psalmi Resurrectionis.)
Verse 1
Jubilate Deo, omnis terra, psalmum dicite nomini ejus; date gloriam laudi ejus.
Shout with joy to God, all the earth; sing a psalm to his name; give glory to his praise.
Word Notes
- jubilate – jubilo, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – shout for joy, exult
- Deus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – God
- terra, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – earth, land
- psalmum dicite – dicite from dico, dicere, dixi, dictum (3rd conj.) – say, sing
- nomen, -inis (n., 3rd decl.) – name
- gloria, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – glory
- laus, laudis (f., 3rd decl.) – praise
Verse 2
Dicite Deo: Quam terribilia sunt opera tua, Domine! In multitudine virtutis tuae mentientur tibi inimici tui.
Say to God: How terrible are your works, O Lord! In the greatness of your power your enemies shall lie to you.
Word Notes
- terribilis, -e (3rd decl. adj.) – fearful, awesome
- opus, -eris (n., 3rd decl.) – work, deed
- multitudo, -inis (f., 3rd decl.) – multitude, greatness
- virtus, -utis (f., 3rd decl.) – strength, power
- mentientur – mentior, mentiri, mentitus sum (4th conj., deponent) – they will lie
- inimicus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – enemy
Verse 3
Omnis terra adoret te, et psallat tibi; psalmum dicat nomini tuo.
Let all the earth adore you and sing to you; let it sing a psalm to your name.
Word Notes
- adoro, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to worship, adore
- psallo, -ere, -avi, -atum (1st conj., later form) – to play, sing psalms
- dico, -ere, dixi, dictum (3rd conj.) – to say, speak
- nomen, -inis (n., 3rd decl.) – name
Verse 4
Venite et videte opera Dei; terribilis in consiliis super filios hominum.
Come and see the works of God; he is wonderful in his counsels over the sons of men.
Word Notes
- venite – venio, venire, veni, ventum (4th conj.) – come
- videte – video, videre, vidi, visum (2nd conj.) – see
- consilium, -ii (n., 2nd decl.) – plan, counsel, design
- filius, -ii (m., 2nd decl.) – son
- homo, hominis (m., 3rd decl.) – man, human being
Verse 5
Qui convertit mare in aridam, in flumine pertransibunt pede: ibi laetabimur in ipso.
He turned the sea into dry land; they shall pass through the river on foot: there we shall rejoice in him.
Word Notes
- converto, -ere, -ti, -sum (3rd conj.) – to turn, change
- mare, -is (n., 3rd decl.) – sea
- arida, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – dry land
- flumen, -inis (n., 3rd decl.) – river
- pertransibunt – pertranseo, pertransire, pertransii, pertransitum (irreg.) – they shall pass through
- laetabimur – laetor, laetari, laetatus sum (1st conj., deponent) – we shall rejoice
Verse 6
Qui dominatur in virtute sua in aeternum; oculi ejus super gentes respiciunt: qui exasperant non exaltentur in semetipsis.
He rules by his power forever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious be exalted in themselves.
Word Notes
- dominatur – dominor, dominari, dominatus sum (1st conj., deponent) – he rules, governs
- virtus, -utis (f., 3rd decl.) – strength, power
- oculus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – eye
- gens, gentis (f., 3rd decl.) – nation
- respiciunt – respicio, respicere, respexi, respectum (3rd conj.) – they look upon
- exaspero, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to provoke, embitter
- exalto, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to lift up, exalt
- semetipsis (refl. pron.) – themselves
Verse 7
Benedicite, gentes, Deo nostro, et audite vocem laudis ejus;
Bless, O nations, our God, and hear the voice of his praise.
Word Notes
- benedicite – benedico, benedicere, benedixi, benedictum (3rd conj.) – bless (imperative plural)
- gens, gentis (f., 3rd decl.) – nation
- audio, audire, audivi, auditum (4th conj.) – hear
- vox, vocis (f., 3rd decl.) – voice
- laus, laudis (f., 3rd decl.) – praise
Verse 8
Qui posuit animam meam ad vitam, et non dedit commoveri pedes meos.
He has set my soul to life, and has not suffered my feet to be moved.
Word Notes
- pono, ponere, posui, positum (3rd conj.) – to place, set
- anima, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – soul
- vita, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – life
- commoveri – commoveo, commovere, commovi, commotum (2nd conj.) – to be moved, shaken
- pes, pedis (m., 3rd decl.) – foot
Verse 9
Quoniam probasti nos, Deus; igne nos examinasti, sicut examinatur argentum.
For you have proved us, O God; you have tried us by fire, as silver is tried.
Word Notes
- probo, probare, probavi, probatum (1st conj.) – to test, prove
- examinasti – examino, examinare, examinavi, examinatum (1st conj.) – you have tested, refined
- ignis, -is (m., 3rd decl.) – fire
- argentum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – silver
Verse 10
Induxisti nos in laqueum, posuisti tribulationes in dorso nostro.
You have brought us into the snare; you have laid tribulations upon our back.
Word Notes
- induco, inducere, induxi, inductum (3rd conj.) – to lead into, bring in
- laqueus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – snare, trap
- tribulatio, -onis (f., 3rd decl.) – trouble, distress
- dorsum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – back
Verse 11
Imposuisti homines super capita nostra; transivimus per ignem et aquam, et eduxisti nos in refrigerium.
You have made men to ride over our heads; we have passed through fire and water, and you have brought us out into refreshment.
Word Notes
- impono, imponere, imposui, impositum (3rd conj.) – to place upon
- caput, -itis (n., 3rd decl.) – head
- transeo, transire, transii, transitum (irreg.) – to pass through
- aqua, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – water
- educo, educere, eduxi, eductum (3rd conj.) – to lead out, bring forth
- refrigerium, -ii (n., 2nd decl.) – refreshment, relief
Verse 12
Introibo in domum tuam in holocaustis; reddam tibi vota mea,
I will enter your house with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows.
Word Notes
- introibo – introeo, introire, introii, introitum (irreg.) – I shall go in
- domus, -us (f., 4th decl.) – house
- holocaustum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – burnt offering
- reddam – reddo, reddere, reddidi, redditum (3rd conj.) – I will pay, return
- votum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – vow
Verse 13
Quae distinxerunt labia mea, et locutum est os meum in tribulatione mea.
Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth has spoken in my trouble.
Word Notes
- distinxerunt – distinguo, distinguere, distinxi, distinctum (3rd conj.) – have uttered, pronounced clearly
- labium, -ii (n., 2nd decl.) – lip
- loquor, loqui, locutus sum (3rd conj., deponent) – to speak
- os, oris (n., 3rd decl.) – mouth
- tribulatio, -onis (f., 3rd decl.) – trouble
Verse 14
Holocausta medullata offeram tibi cum incenso arietum; offeram tibi boves cum hircis.
I will offer you fat burnt offerings with the incense of rams; I will offer you oxen with goats.
Word Notes
- holocaustum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – burnt offering
- medullatus, -a, -um – full of marrow, rich
- incensum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – incense
- aries, -etis (m., 3rd decl.) – ram
- bos, bovis (m./f., 3rd decl.) – ox, cow
- hircus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – goat
- offero, offerre, obtuli, oblatum (irreg.) – to offer
Verse 15
Venite, audite, et narrabo, omnes qui timetis Deum, quanta fecit animae meae.
Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what great things he has done for my soul.
Word Notes
- venite – venio, venire, veni, ventum (4th conj.) – come
- audio, audire, audivi, auditum (4th conj.) – hear
- narro, narrare, narravi, narratum (1st conj.) – tell, relate
- timeo, timere, timui (2nd conj.) – fear
- facio, facere, feci, factum (3rd conj.) – do, make
Verse 16
Ad ipsum ore meo clamavi, et exaltavi sub lingua mea.
To him I cried with my mouth, and I exalted him under my tongue.
Word Notes
- clamo, clamare, clamavi, clamatum (1st conj.) – to cry out
- exalto, exaltare, exaltavi, exaltatum (1st conj.) – to exalt
- sub lingua – an idiom: inwardly, under the breath
Verse 17
Iniquitatem si aspexi in corde meo, non exaudiet Dominus.
If I have regarded iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
Word Notes
- aspicio, aspicere, aspexi, aspectum (3rd conj.) – to look upon
- cor, cordis (n., 3rd decl.) – heart
- inaudiet – exaudio, exaudire, exaudivi, exauditum (4th conj.) – hear favourably
Verse 18
Propterea exaudivit Deus, et attendit voci deprecationis meae.
Therefore God has heard me, and attended to the voice of my supplication.
Word Notes
- attendo, attendere, attendi, attentum (3rd conj.) – to give heed, attend
- vox, vocis (f., 3rd decl.) – voice
- deprecatio, -onis (f., 3rd decl.) – supplication, plea
Verse 19
Benedictus Deus, qui non amovit orationem meam et misericordiam suam a me.
Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
Word Notes
- benedictus, -a, -um (perf. part.) – blessed
- amovit – amoveo, amovere, amovi, amotum (2nd conj.) – has removed, taken away
- misericordia, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – mercy
SUMMARY COMMENTARY
Psalm 65 is a hymn of thanksgiving and restoration. It opens with universal praise (Jubilate Deo, omnis terra) and moves to personal testimony (Venite, audite, et narrabo). The psalmist remembers trials—fire, water, oppression—and rejoices in deliverance.
The imagery of refinement (examinasti sicut argentum) symbolises moral purification. Adversity becomes the means by which faith is tested and deepened. The psalm’s second half turns inward, recalling answered prayer and restored relationship with God.
Psychologically, this psalm represents resolution and gratitude—the completion of an inner journey from fear to confidence. Its balance between communal and personal thanksgiving mirrors the structure of the spiritual life: purification, trial, and renewal in joy.
EXERCISES
(a) ENGLISH → LATIN TRANSLATION
Translate:
- Shout with joy to God, all the earth.
- He turned the sea into dry land.
- We passed through fire and water.
- Blessed be God, who has heard my prayer.
Key:
- Jubilate Deo, omnis terra.
- Convertit mare in aridam.
- Transivimus per ignem et aquam.
- Benedictus Deus, qui exaudivit orationem meam.
(b) VERB FORM PRACTICE
Give full principal parts and meanings:
- jubilate – jubilo, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – shout for joy
- mentientur – mentior, mentiri, mentitus sum (4th conj., deponent) – they will lie
- probasti – probo, probare, probavi, probatum (1st conj.) – you have tested
- transivimus – transeo, transire, transii, transitum (irreg.) – we have passed through
- amovit – amoveo, amovere, amovi, amotum (2nd conj.) – has removed
Conjugation Practice
Form the present, imperfect, and future indicative of video (2nd conj.):
| Tense | Forms |
|---|---|
| Present | video, vides, videt, videmus, videtis, vident |
| Imperfect | videbam, videbas, videbat, videbamus, videbatis, videbant |
| Future | videbo, videbis, videbit, videbimus, videbitis, videbunt |
Form the perfect and pluperfect of narro (1st conj.):
| Tense | Forms |
|---|---|
| Perfect | narravi, narravisti, narravit, narravimus, narravistis, narraverunt |
| Pluperfect | narraveram, narraveras, narraverat, narraveramus, narraveratis, narraverant |
(c) REFLECTION
- What does the refining image of silver reveal about the role of suffering
in faith?
2. How does the psalmist’s experience move from collective worship to personal gratitude?
3. Compare the closing verse with Psalm 64’s imagery of blessing and abundance — how do both end in renewal?