Deus, in adjutorium meum intende
(In finem. Psalmus David, in rememorationem.)
Verse 1
Deus, in adjutorium meum intende; Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina.
O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me.
Word Notes
- intende – intendo, intendere, intendi, intentum (3rd conj.) – attend to, give heed to
- adjutorium, -ii (n., 2nd decl.) – help, assistance
- adjuvandum – adjuvo, adjuvare, adjuvi, adjutum (1st conj.) – to help (gerund in acc.)
- festina – festino, festinare, festinavi, festinatum (1st conj.) – hasten, hurry
- Domine (voc. of Dominus) – O Lord
Verse 2
Confundantur et revereantur, qui quaerunt animam meam.
Let them be confounded and put to shame who seek after my soul.
Word Notes
- confundantur – confundo, confundere, confudi, confusum (3rd conj.) – may they be confounded
- revereantur – revereor, revereri, reveritus sum (2nd conj., deponent) – may they be ashamed
- quaerunt – quaero, quaerere, quaesivi, quaesitum (3rd conj.) – they seek
- anima, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – soul, life
Verse 3
Avertantur retrorsum et erubescant, qui volunt mihi mala.
Let them be turned backward and blush, who desire evil against me.
Word Notes
- avertantur – averto, avertere, averti, aversum (3rd conj., pass.) – may they be turned away
- retrorsum (adv.) – backward
- erubescant – erubesco, erubescere, erubui (3rd conj.) – may they blush, be ashamed
- volunt – volo, velle, volui (irreg.) – they wish, want
- malum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – evil, harm
Verse 4
Avertantur statim erubescentes, qui dicunt mihi: Euge, euge.
Let them be turned away immediately in shame, who say to me: Well done, well done (in mockery).
Word Notes
- statim (adv.) – immediately
- dicunt – dico, dicere, dixi, dictum (3rd conj.) – they say
- euge (interj.) – well done, bravo (used here ironically)
Verse 5
Exsultent et laetentur in te omnes qui quaerunt te, et dicant semper: Magnificetur Dominus, qui diligunt salutare tuum.
Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; and let those who love your salvation always say: Let the Lord be magnified.
Word Notes
- exsulto, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to rejoice, exult
- laetor, laetari, laetatus sum (1st conj., deponent) – to be glad
- quaero, quaerere, quaesivi, quaesitum (3rd conj.) – to seek
- dico, dicere, dixi, dictum (3rd conj.) – to say
- magnificetur – magnifico, magnificare, magnificavi, magnificatum (1st conj., pass.) – may he be magnified
- diligo, diligere, dilexi, dilectum (3rd conj.) – to love
- salutare, -is (n., 3rd decl.) – salvation
Verse 6
Ego vero egenus et pauper sum; Deus, adjuva me. Adjutor meus et liberator meus es tu; Domine, ne moreris.
But I am poor and needy; O God, help me. You are my helper and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.
Word Notes
- egenus, -a, -um – needy, destitute
- pauper, -eris (m./f., 3rd decl.) – poor
- adjuva – adjuvo, adjuvare, adjuvi, adjutum (1st conj.) – help (imperative)
- adjutor, -oris (m., 3rd decl.) – helper
- liberator, -oris (m., 3rd decl.) – deliverer
- moreris – moror, morari, moratus sum (1st conj., deponent) – delay
SUMMARY COMMENTARY
Psalm 69 is a short cry for help — an urgent personal plea framed within the simplest possible structure. Its opening line, Deus, in adjutorium meum intende, became the standard invocation of the Christian Hours, recited at the beginning of every canonical office.
The psalm alternates between petition and imprecation: the psalmist calls for divine aid and the humbling of enemies, yet ends not in vengeance but in humble trust — “I am poor and needy.” Its brevity gives it power: this is the prayer of crisis, stripped of ornament, pure immediacy of need.
Psychologically, the psalm reflects moments of acute vulnerability when the ego collapses and the soul seeks grounding. “Make haste” becomes the cry of consciousness awakening to dependence on a greater strength. It is the distilled essence of prayer — the heart’s reflex under pressure.
EXERCISES
(a) ENGLISH → LATIN TRANSLATION
Translate:
- O God, come to my assistance.
- Let those who seek my soul be confounded.
- Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you.
- O Lord, do not delay.
Key:
- Deus, in adjutorium meum intende.
- Confundantur qui quaerunt animam meam.
- Exsultent et laetentur in te omnes qui quaerunt te.
- Domine, ne moreris.
(b) VERB FORM PRACTICE
Give full principal parts and meanings:
- intende – intendo, intendere, intendi, intentum (3rd conj.) – attend to
- confundantur – confundo, confundere, confudi, confusum (3rd conj.) – may they be confounded
- revereantur – revereor, revereri, reveritus sum (2nd conj., deponent) – may they be ashamed
- magnificetur – magnifico, magnificare, magnificavi, magnificatum (1st conj., passive)* – may he be magnified
- moreris – moror, morari, moratus sum (1st conj., deponent) – delay
Conjugation Practice
Form the present, imperfect, and future indicative of adjuvo (1st conj.):
| Tense | Forms |
|---|---|
| Present | adjuvo, adjuvas, adjuvat, adjuvamus, adjuvatis, adjuvant |
| Imperfect | adjuvabam, adjuvabas, adjuvabat, adjuvabamus, adjuvabatis, adjuvabant |
| Future | adjuvabo, adjuvabis, adjuvabit, adjuvabimus, adjuvabitis, adjuvabunt |
Form the perfect and pluperfect of confundo (3rd conj.):
| Tense | Forms |
|---|---|
| Perfect | confudi, confudisti, confudit, confudimus, confudistis, confuderunt |
| Pluperfect | confuderam, confuderas, confuderat, confuderamus, confuderatis, confuderant |
(c) REFLECTION
- Why might this short psalm have become the universal opening prayer of Christian liturgy?
- How does its brevity enhance its emotional and spiritual power?
- What does the phrase “I am poor and needy” reveal about humility and dependence in prayer?