Exsurgat Deus, et dissipentur inimici ejus
(In finem. Psalmus cantici ipsi David.)
Verse 1
Exsurgat Deus, et dissipentur inimici ejus; et fugiant qui oderunt eum a facie ejus.
Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee from his face.
Word Notes
- exsurgat – exsurgo, exsurgere, exsurrexi, exsurrectum (3rd conj.) – may he arise
- dissipentur – dissipo, dissipare, dissipavi, dissipatum (1st conj.) – may they be scattered
- inimicus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – enemy
- fugiant – fugio, fugere, fugi (3rd conj.) – may they flee
- odi, odisse (defective) – to hate
- facies, -ei (f., 5th decl.) – face, presence
Verse 2
Sicut deficit fumus, deficiant; sicut fluit cera a facie ignis, sic pereant peccatores a facie Dei.
As smoke vanishes, so may they vanish; as wax melts before the fire, so let sinners perish before God.
Word Notes
- deficio, -ere, -feci, -fectum (3rd conj.) – to fail, vanish
- fumus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – smoke
- fluo, -ere, fluxi, fluxum (3rd conj.) – to flow, melt away
- cera, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – wax
- pereant – pereo, perire, perii, peritum (irreg.) – may they perish
- peccator, -oris (m., 3rd decl.) – sinner
Verse 3
Et justi epulentur, et exsultent in conspectu Dei, et delectentur in laetitia.
But let the just feast and rejoice before God, and be glad with joy.
Word Notes
- justus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – righteous man
- epulentur – epulor, epulari, epulatus sum (1st conj., deponent) – let them feast, celebrate
- exsulto, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to rejoice greatly
- conspectus, -us (m., 4th decl.) – sight, presence
- delector, -ari, -atus sum (1st conj., deponent) – to delight
- laetitia, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – joy
Verse 4
Cantate Deo, psalmum dicite nomini ejus; iter facite ei qui ascendit super occasum. Dominus nomen illi. Exsultate in conspectu ejus.
Sing to God, sing a psalm to his name; prepare the way for him who rides upon the sunset. The Lord is his name. Rejoice before him.
Word Notes
- canto, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to sing
- iter facite – iter, itineris (n., 3rd decl.) + facio, facere, feci, factum (3rd conj.) – make the way, prepare
- ascendit – ascendo, ascendere, ascendi, ascensum (3rd conj.) – rises, ascends
- occasus, -us (m., 4th decl.) – setting (of the sun), west
- nomen, -inis (n., 3rd decl.) – name
- exsultate – exsulto, exsultare, exsultavi, exsultatum (1st conj.) – rejoice (imperative plural)
Verse 5
Patris orphanorum et judicis viduarum Deus in loco sancto suo.
Father of orphans and judge of widows is God in his holy place.
Word Notes
- pater, patris (m., 3rd decl.) – father
- orphanus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – orphan
- judex, judicis (m., 3rd decl.) – judge
- vidua, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – widow
- locus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – place
- sanctus, -a, -um – holy
Verse 6
Deus qui inhabitare facit unius moris in domo; qui educit vinctos in fortitudine, similiter eos qui exasperant, qui habitant in sepulchris.
God makes those of one mind dwell in a house; he brings forth those bound in strength, likewise those who provoke, who dwell among tombs.
Word Notes
- inhabitare facit – inhabito, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) + facio, facere (3rd conj.) – makes dwell
- unus moris (gen.) – of one mind
- vinctus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – bound one, prisoner
- fortitudo, -inis (f., 3rd decl.) – strength, power
- exaspero, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to provoke
- sepulchrum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – tomb
Verse 7
Deus, cum egredereris in conspectu populi tui, cum pertransires in deserto,
O God, when you went forth before your people, when you passed through the desert,
Word Notes
- egredereris – egredior, egredi, egressus sum (3rd conj., deponent) – you went out
- pertransires – pertranseo, pertransire, pertransii, pertransitum (irreg.) – you passed through
- desertum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – desert
Verse 8
Terra mota est, etenim caeli distillaverunt a facie Dei Sinai, a facie Dei Israel.
The earth was moved, and the heavens dropped down before the God of Sinai, before the God of Israel.
Word Notes
- moveo, movere, movi, motum (2nd conj.) – to move, shake
- caelum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – heaven
- distillo, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to drip, pour down
- Sinai (indecl.) – Sinai, mountain of God
- Israel (indecl.) – Israel
Verse 9
Pluviam voluntariam segregabis, Deus, haereditati tuae, et infirmata est; tu vero perfecisti eam.
You will send a willing rain, O God, upon your inheritance; when it was weak, you have perfected it.
Word Notes
- pluvia, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – rain
- voluntarius, -a, -um – willing, freely given
- segrego, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to set apart, send upon
- haereditas, -atis (f., 3rd decl.) – inheritance
- infirmatus, -a, -um – weakened
- perficio, perficere, perfeci, perfectum (3rd conj.) – to complete, perfect
Verse 10
Animalia tua habitabunt in ea; parasti in dulcedine tua pauperi, Deus.
Your creatures shall dwell therein; in your goodness, O God, you have provided for the poor.
Word Notes
- animal, -is (n., 3rd decl.) – living creature
- habito, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to dwell
- dulcedo, -inis (f., 3rd decl.) – sweetness, goodness
- pauper, -eris (m./f., 3rd decl.) – poor person
- paro, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to prepare, provide
SUMMARY COMMENTARY
Psalm 67 is a hymn of divine victory and mercy, recalling Israel’s deliverance and celebrating God’s kingship. Its opening cry — Exsurgat Deus — echoes the call from Numbers 10:35: a rising of divine power to scatter evil. Yet the psalm swiftly balances triumph with compassion: the Father of orphans and judge of widows (v.5).
The imagery alternates between storm and sanctuary — trembling earth, melting wax, and the soft “voluntary rain” that restores the inheritance. It portrays the divine as both awesome and tender: power and pity joined.
Psychologically, this psalm describes renewal after oppression. The scattering of enemies symbolises the dissolution of inner conflict; the rain on the inheritance mirrors recovery of life after exhaustion. The God who “makes those of one mind dwell in a house” points to inner reconciliation — unity after division.
EXERCISES
(a) ENGLISH → LATIN TRANSLATION
Translate:
- Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered.
- As wax melts before the fire.
- Sing to God, sing a psalm to his name.
- Father of orphans and judge of widows.
Key:
- Exsurgat Deus, et dissipentur inimici ejus.
- Sicut fluit cera a facie ignis.
- Cantate Deo, psalmum dicite nomini ejus.
- Patris orphanorum et judicis viduarum.
(b) VERB FORM PRACTICE
Give full principal parts and meanings:
- exsurgat – exsurgo, exsurgere, exsurrexi, exsurrectum (3rd conj.) – may he arise
- dissipentur – dissipo, dissipare, dissipavi, dissipatum (1st conj.) – may they be scattered
- epulentur – epulor, epulari, epulatus sum (1st conj., deponent) – let them feast
- perficisti – perficio, perficere, perfeci, perfectum (3rd conj.) – you have perfected
- habitabunt – habito, habitare, habitavi, habitatum (1st conj.) – they will dwell
Conjugation Practice
Form the present, imperfect, and future indicative of moveo (2nd conj.):
| Tense | Forms |
|---|---|
| Present | moveo, moves, movet, movemus, movetis, movent |
| Imperfect | movebam, movebas, movebat, movebamus, movebatis, movebant |
| Future | movebo, movebis, movebit, movebimus, movebitis, movebunt |
Form the perfect and pluperfect of dissipo (1st conj.):
| Tense | Forms |
|---|---|
| Perfect | dissipavi, dissipavisti, dissipavit, dissipavimus, dissipavistis, dissipaverunt |
| Pluperfect | dissipaveram, dissipaveras, dissipaverat, dissipaveramus, dissipaveratis, dissipaverant |
(c) REFLECTION
- What balance does the psalm strike between divine power and divine tenderness?
- How can “God arising” be understood inwardly as the renewal of moral or spiritual strength?
- In what sense does the rain upon the inheritance symbolise recovery and grace after hardship?