Deus, judicium tuum Regi da
Versus 1
Deus, judicium tuum Regi da, et justitiam tuam filio Regis.
O God, give your judgment to the King, and your righteousness to the King’s Son.
Word Notes:
- judicium, -ii n. (2) – judgment, decision, justice.
- rex, regis m. (3) – king.
- justitia, -ae f. (1) – righteousness, justice.
- filius, -ii m. (2) – son.
- do – dare – dedi – datum (1) – to give.
Versus 2
Judicabit populum tuum in justitia, et pauperes tuos in judicio.
He shall judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
Word Notes:
- judico – judicare – judicavi – judicatum (1) – to judge.
- populus, -i m. (2) – people, nation.
- pauper, -pĕris m./f. (3) – poor person.
- judicium, -ii n. (2) – justice, judgment.
Versus 3
Suscipiant montes pacem populo, et colles justitiam.
Let the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills righteousness.
Word Notes:
- suscipio – suscipere – suscepi – susceptum (3 mix) – to bring forth, support.
- mons, montis m. (3) – mountain.
- collis, -is m. (3) – hill.
- pax, pacis f. (3) – peace.
Versus 4
Judicabit pauperes populi, et salvos faciet filios pauperum, et humiliabit calumniatorem.
He shall judge the poor of the people, save the children of the needy, and humble the oppressor.
Word Notes:
- salvo – salvare – salvavi – salvatum (1) – to save.
- humilio – humiliare – humiliavi – humiliatum (1) – to humble.
- calumniator, -oris m. (3) – accuser, oppressor.
Versus 5
Et permanebit cum sole, et ante lunam, in generatione et generationem.
He shall endure with the sun, and before the moon, from generation to generation.
Word Notes:
- permano – permanere – permansi – permansum (2) – to remain, endure.
- sol, solis m. (3) – sun.
- luna, -ae f. (1) – moon.
- generatio, -onis f. (3) – generation.
Versus 6
Descendet sicut pluvia in vellus, et sicut stillicidia stillantia super terram.
He shall descend like rain upon the fleece, and like gentle drops falling upon the earth.
Word Notes:
- descendo – descendere – descendi – descensum (3) – to descend.
- pluvia, -ae f. (1) – rain.
- vellus, -eris n. (3) – fleece.
- stillacidium, -ii n. (2) – dew, dripping.
Versus 7
Orietur in diebus ejus justitia, et abundantia pacis donec auferatur luna.
In his days shall righteousness arise, and abundance of peace until the moon shall be no more.
Word Notes:
- orior – oriri – ortus sum (dep. 4) – to rise.
- abundantia, -ae f. (1) – abundance.
- aufero – auferre – abstuli – ablatum (irr.) – to take away, remove.
Versus 8
Et dominabitur a mari usque ad mare, et a flumine usque ad terminos terrae.
And he shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.
Word Notes:
- dominor – dominari – dominatus sum (dep. 1) – to rule.
- mare, -maris n. (3 i-stem) – sea.
- flumen, -fluminis n. (3) – river.
- terminus, -i m. (2) – boundary, limit.
Versus 9
Coram illo procident Aethiopes, et inimici ejus terram lingent.
Before him Ethiopians shall fall down, and his enemies shall lick the dust.
Word Notes:
- procido – procidere – procidi – — (3) – to fall forward.
- Aethiops, -ōpis m. (3) – Ethiopian.
- inimicus, -i m. (2) – enemy.
- lingo – lingere – linxi – lictum (3) – to lick.
Versus 10–11
Reges Tharsis et insulae munera offerent; reges Arabum et Saba dona adducent. Et adorabunt eum omnes reges, omnes gentes servient ei.
The kings of Tarshish and the islands shall offer gifts; the kings of Arabia and of Saba shall bring presents. All kings shall worship him; all nations shall serve him.
Word Notes:
- munus, -muneris n. (3) – gift, offering.
- adoro – adorare – adoravi – adoratum (1) – to adore, worship.
- gens, gentis f. (3) – nation, people.
- servio – servire – servivi – servitum (4) – to serve.
Versus 12–14
Quia liberabit pauperem a potente, et pauperem cui non erat adjutor. Parcet pauperi et inopi, et animas pauperum salvas faciet. Ex usuris et iniquitate redimet animas eorum, et honorabile nomen eorum coram illo.
For he shall deliver the poor from the mighty, and the needy who has no helper. He shall spare the poor and the helpless, and save their souls. From oppression and injustice he shall redeem them, and their name shall be precious before him.
Word Notes:
- libero – liberare – liberavi – liberatum (1) – to free.
- parco – parcere – peperci – parsum (3) – to spare.
- redimo – redimere – redemi – redemptum (3) – to redeem.
- honorabilis, -e (adj. 3) – honourable, precious.
Versus 15–16
Et vivet, et dabit ei de auro Arabiae; et adorabunt de ipso semper, tota die benedicent ei. Et erit firmamentum in terra in summis montium; superextolletur super Libanum fructus ejus, et florebunt de civitate sicut foenum terrae.
He shall live, and they shall give him gold of Arabia; they shall worship him continually and bless him all the day. There shall be abundance in the land on the tops of mountains; his fruit shall rise above Lebanon, and the people of the city shall flourish like the grass of the field.
Word Notes:
- aurum, -i n. (2) – gold.
- firmamentum, -i n. (2) – firmness, abundance, strength.
- fructus, -us m. (4) – fruit, produce.
- floreo – florere – florui — (2) – to flourish.
Versus 17
Sit nomen ejus benedictum in saecula; ante solem permanet nomen ejus. Et benedicentur in ipso omnes tribus terrae, omnes gentes magnificabunt eum.
May his name be blessed for ever; before the sun his name shall endure. In him shall all tribes of the earth be blessed; all nations shall glorify him.
Word Notes:
- benedico – benedicere – benedixi – benedictum (3) – to bless.
- saeculum, -i n. (2) – age, world, eternity.
- magnifico – magnificare – magnificavi – magnificatum (1) – to magnify, glorify.
Versus 18–20
Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, qui facit mirabilia solus. Et benedictum nomen majestatis ejus in aeternum; et replebitur majestate ejus omnis terra. Fiat, fiat. Defecerunt orationes David, filii Jesse.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who alone works wonders. Blessed be the name of his majesty for ever; and may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, amen. The prayers of David, son of Jesse, are ended.
Word Notes:
- mirabile, -is n. (3) – wonder, marvel.
- maiestas, -atis f. (3) – majesty, splendour.
- deficio – deficere – defeci – defectum (3 mix) – to fail, to cease.
Summary Commentary
Psalm 72 closes the second book of the Psalter. It is both royal and messianic: a prayer that the king may rule with divine justice, defend the poor, and extend peace “from sea to sea.” Originally perhaps written for Solomon’s accession, it was later interpreted as the vision of an ideal ruler, a symbol of perfect kingship fulfilled only in divine justice itself.
The psalm moves from moral instruction to cosmic praise. Its universalism—“all nations shall serve him”—is matched by a deep social ethic: true kingship defends the weak. Spiritually, it marks the transition from David’s personal prayers to the larger hope of God’s reign over humankind.
Exercises
(a) English → Latin Translation
Translate:
- O God, give your justice to the king.
- He shall rule from sea to sea.
- All nations shall bless him.
- Blessed be the Lord God of Israel.
Key:
- Deus, judicium tuum Regi da.
- Dominabitur a mari usque ad mare.
- Omnes gentes benedicent ei.
- Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel.
(b) Verb Form Practice
Conjugate in present, imperfect, future indicative:
- judico – judicare (to judge)
- libero – liberare (to free)
- dominor – dominari (to rule, dep.)
- floreo – florere (to flourish)
- benedico – benedicere (to bless)
Model Answers:
- judico / judicabam / judicabo
- libero / liberabam / liberabo
- dominor / dominabar / dominabor
- floreo / florebam / florebo
- benedico / benedicebam / benedixero (fut. perf.)
(c) Reflection Questions
- How does this psalm unite justice and compassion in its image of kingship?
- What might “from sea to sea” symbolise in spiritual or moral terms?
- Why does the psalm end with the note that David’s prayers are finished?