In te, Domine, speravi
(David. In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum.)
Verse 1
In te, Domine, speravi; non confundar in aeternum.
In you, O Lord, I have hoped; let me never be confounded.
Word Notes
- spero, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to hope
- confundar – confundo, -ere, -fudi, -fusum (3rd conj., passive)* – may I be confounded, put to shame
- aeternum (adv.) – for ever
Verse 2
In justitia tua libera me et eripe me; inclina ad me aurem tuam et salva me.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me.
Word Notes
- justitia, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – righteousness, justice
- libera – libero, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – free, deliver
- eripe – eripio, -ere, -ui, -reptum (3rd conj.) – snatch away, rescue
- inclina – inclino, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – incline, bend
- auris, -is (f., 3rd decl.) – ear
- salva – salvo, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – save
Verse 3
Esto mihi in Deum protectorem et in locum munitum, ut salvum me facias; quoniam firmamentum meum et refugium meum es tu.
Be to me a protecting God and a fortified place, that you may save me; for you are my strength and my refuge.
Word Notes
- esto – sum, esse, fui (irreg.) – be (imperative)
- protector, -oris (m., 3rd decl.) – protector
- munitus, -a, -um – fortified, strong
- firmamentum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – support, foundation
- refugium, -ii (n., 2nd decl.) – refuge, shelter
Verse 4
Deus meus, eripe me de manu peccatoris, et de manu contra legem agentis et iniqui.
My God, deliver me from the hand of the sinner, from the hand of the lawbreaker and the unjust.
Word Notes
- manus, -us (f., 4th decl.) – hand
- peccator, -oris (m., 3rd decl.) – sinner
- contra legem agens – lawbreaker (lex, legis, f., 3rd decl. – law)
- iniquus, -a, -um – unjust, evil
Verse 5
Quoniam tu es patientia mea, Domine; spes mea a juventute mea.
For you are my patience, O Lord; my hope from my youth.
Word Notes
- patientia, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – patience, endurance
- spes, -ei (f., 5th decl.) – hope
- juventus, -utis (f., 3rd decl.) – youth
Verse 6
In te confirmatus sum ex utero; de ventre matris meae tu es protector meus. In te cantatio mea semper.
I have been upheld by you from the womb; you are my protector from my mother’s belly. My song shall always be of you.
Word Notes
- confirmatus sum – confirmo, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj., pass.) – I have been strengthened, upheld
- uterus, -i (m., 2nd decl.) – womb
- venter, ventris (m., 3rd decl.) – belly
- protector, -oris (m., 3rd decl.) – protector
- cantatio, -onis (f., 3rd decl.) – song, melody
Verse 7
Tamquam prodigium factus sum multis, et tu adjutor fortis.
I have become a wonder to many, but you are my strong helper.
Word Notes
- prodigium, -ii (n., 2nd decl.) – wonder, marvel
- multus, -a, -um – many
- adjutor, -oris (m., 3rd decl.) – helper
- fortis, -e (3rd decl. adj.) – strong
Verse 8
Repleatur os meum laude, ut cantem gloriam tuam tota die magnitudinem tuam.
Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing your glory all the day long, and your greatness.
Word Notes
- repleatur – repleo, -ere, -evi, -etum (2nd conj., pass.) – may it be filled
- os, oris (n., 3rd decl.) – mouth
- laus, laudis (f., 3rd decl.) – praise
- canto, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – sing
- gloria, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – glory
- magnitudo, -inis (f., 3rd decl.) – greatness
Verse 9
Ne projicias me in tempore senectutis; cum defecerit virtus mea, ne derelinquas me.
Cast me not off in the time of old age; when my strength fails, forsake me not.
Word Notes
- projicio, -ere, -ieci, -iectum (3rd conj.) – to cast forth, reject
- senectus, -utis (f., 3rd decl.) – old age
- defecerit – deficio, -ere, -feci, -fectum (3rd conj.) – will have failed
- virtus, -utis (f., 3rd decl.) – strength, power
- derelinquas – derelinquo, -ere, -liqui, -lictum (3rd conj.) – abandon
Verse 10
Quia dixerunt inimici mei mihi: Et qui custodiebant animam meam consilium fecerunt in unum,
For my enemies have spoken against me, and those who watched my soul have taken counsel together.
Word Notes
- dico, -ere, dixi, dictum (3rd conj.) – to say
- custodio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (4th conj.) – to guard, watch
- consilium, -ii (n., 2nd decl.) – plan, counsel
- in unum – together, in one purpose
Verse 11
Dicentes: Deus dereliquit eum; persequimini et comprehendite eum, quia non est qui eruat.
Saying: God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him.
Word Notes
- dereliquit – derelinquo, -ere, -liqui, -lictum (3rd conj.) – has forsaken
- persequimini – persequor, persequi, persecutus sum (3rd conj., deponent) – pursue (imperative)
- comprehendite – comprehendo, -ere, -endi, -ensum (3rd conj.) – seize
- eruat – eruo, -ere, -ui, -utum (3rd conj.) – deliver
Verse 12
Deus, ne elongeris a me; Deus meus, in auxilium meum respice.
O God, be not far from me; O my God, look to my help.
Word Notes
- elongeris – elongor, elongari, elongatus sum (1st conj., deponent) – be distant
- auxilium, -ii (n., 2nd decl.) – help, aid
- respice – respicio, -ere, -exi, -ectum (3rd conj.) – look upon, regard
SUMMARY COMMENTARY
Psalm 70 (Vulgate) is a prayer of lifelong trust — the plea of one who has known God’s faithfulness from birth and now faces the weakness of age. It is not dramatic but deeply personal, uniting the experiences of youth, trial, and decline under the same divine care.
Its central theme is continuity of faith: “From my mother’s womb you are my protector.” The psalmist’s fear is not death but abandonment — the feeling of uselessness and obscurity that can accompany old age. Yet faith persists: “Cast me not off in the time of old age.”
Psychologically, this psalm expresses the soul’s movement from anxiety to gratitude. Memory becomes a stabilising force: recalling past deliverance rekindles present hope. It is a psalm of spiritual resilience, of confidence in divine constancy even when human strength fails.
EXERCISES
(a) ENGLISH → LATIN TRANSLATION
Translate:
- In you, O Lord, I have hoped.
- Deliver me from the hand of the sinner.
- Cast me not off in the time of old age.
- You are my helper and my refuge.
Key:
- In te, Domine, speravi.
- Eripe me de manu peccatoris.
- Ne projicias me in tempore senectutis.
- Adjutor meus et refugium meum es tu.
(b) VERB FORM PRACTICE
Give full principal parts and meanings:
- spero – spero, sperare, speravi, speratum (1st conj.) – to hope
- eripe – eripio, eripere, eripui, ereptum (3rd conj.) – rescue
- derelinquas – derelinquo, derelinquere, dereliqui, derelictum (3rd conj.) – forsake
- respice – respicio, respicere, respexi, respectum (3rd conj.) – look upon
- libera – libero, liberare, liberavi, liberatum (1st conj.) – deliver
Conjugation Practice
Form the present, imperfect, and future indicative of libero (1st conj.):
| Tense | Forms |
|---|---|
| Present | libero, liberas, liberat, liberamus, liberatis, liberant |
| Imperfect | liberabam, liberabas, liberabat, liberabamus, liberabatis, liberabant |
| Future | liberabo, liberabis, liberabit, liberabimus, liberabitis, liberabunt |
Form the perfect and pluperfect of spero (1st conj.):
| Tense | Forms |
|---|---|
| Perfect | speravi, speravisti, speravit, speravimus, speravistis, speraverunt |
| Pluperfect | speraveram, speraveras, speraverat, speraveramus, speraveratis, speraverant |
(c) REFLECTION
- How does this psalm’s emphasis on memory shape its vision of faith and endurance?
- What does the plea “Cast me not off in old age” reveal about human dignity and divine constancy?
- In what ways can gratitude for past protection strengthen hope amid present weakness?