Ut quid, Deus, repulisti in finem?
Versus 1
Ut quid, Deus, repulisti in finem, iratus est furor tuus super oves pascuae tuae?
Why, O God, have you cast us off forever? Why has your anger blazed against the sheep of your pasture?
Word Notes:
- repello – repellere – reppuli – repulsum (3) – to drive back, reject.
- ira, -ae f. (1) – anger, wrath.
- furor, -oris m. (3) – rage, fury.
- ovis, ovis f. (3) – sheep.
- pascua, -ae f. (1) – pasture, feeding ground.
Versus 2
Recordare congregationis tuae, quam possedisti ab initio; redemisti virgam haereditatis tuae, mons Sion, in quo habitasti in eo.
Remember your congregation, which you have possessed from the beginning; the tribe of your inheritance you redeemed—Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
Word Notes:
- recordor – recordari – recordatus sum (dep. 1) – to remember.
- congregatio, -onis f. (3) – assembly, congregation.
- possideo – possidere – possedi – possessum (2) – to possess.
- redimo – redimere – redemi – redemptum (3) – to redeem.
- haereditas, -atis f. (3) – inheritance.
Versus 3
Leva manus tuas in superbias eorum in finem; quanta malignatus est inimicus in sancto!
Lift up your hands against their pride without end; see how much the enemy has acted wickedly in the sanctuary!
Word Notes:
- levo – levare – levavi – levatum (1) – to lift, raise.
- superbia, -ae f. (1) – pride, arrogance.
- maligno – malignare – malignavi – malignatum (1) – to act maliciously.
- inimicus, -i m. (2) – enemy.
- sanctum, -i n. (2) – holy place, sanctuary.
Versus 4
Et gloriati sunt qui oderunt te in medio solemnitatis tuae.
Your enemies have roared in the midst of your solemn assembly and gloried against you.
Word Notes:
- glorior – gloriari – gloriatus sum (dep. 1) – to boast, glory.
- odio – odisse – (def.) – to hate (perfect forms only).
- sollemnitas, -atis f. (3) – festival, solemnity.
Versus 5
Posuerunt signa sua, signa, et non cognoverunt sicut in introitu super summum.
They set up their own signs—signs which they did not recognise—as though at the entrance above the sanctuary.
Word Notes:
- signum, -i n. (2) – sign, standard, emblem.
- cognosco – cognoscere – cognovi – cognitum (3) – to know, perceive.
- introitus, -us m. (4) – entrance.
Versus 6–7
Quasi in silva lignorum secures exciderunt januas ejus in idipsum; in securi et ascia deiecerunt eam. Incenderunt igni sanctuarium tuum, in terra polluerunt tabernaculum nominis tui.
As in a thicket of trees, they have broken down its doors with axes and hammers. They have burned your sanctuary with fire and defiled the dwelling of your name upon the earth.
Word Notes:
- securis, -is f. (3) – axe.
- ascia, -ae f. (1) – hatchet, adze.
- deicio – deicere – dejeci – dejectum (3 mix) – to cast down.
- incendo – incendere – incendi – incensum (3) – to burn.
- polluo – polluere – pollui – pollutum (3) – to defile.
Versus 8
Dixerunt in corde suo: Simul omnes gentes; combusserunt omnes solemnitates Dei in terra.
They said in their heart, “Let us destroy them all together.” They have burned all the assemblies of God in the land.
Word Notes:
- cor, cordis n. (3) – heart.
- comburo – comburere – combussi – combustum (3) – to burn up, destroy.
- gens, gentis f. (3) – people, nation.
Versus 9
Signa nostra non vidimus, jam non est propheta, et nos non cognoscet amplius.
We see not our signs; there is no longer a prophet, nor is there any among us who knows how long this will be.
Word Notes:
- propheta, -ae m. (1) – prophet.
- cognosco – cognoscere – cognovi – cognitum (3) – to know.
- amplius (adv.) – any more, any longer.
Versus 10
Usquequo, Deus, improperabit inimicus; irritat adversarius nomen tuum in finem?
How long, O God, shall the enemy reproach? Shall the adversary provoke your name forever?
Word Notes:
- usquequo (adv.) – how long?
- impropero – improperare – improperavi – improperatum (1) – to reproach, insult.
- adversarius, -ii m. (2) – adversary, opponent.
- irrito – irritare – irritavi – irritatum (1) – to provoke.
Versus 11
Ut quid avertis manum tuam et dexteram tuam de medio sinu tuo in finem?
Why do you turn away your hand, even your right hand? Take it from your bosom and make an end!
Word Notes:
- averto – avertere – averti – aversum (3) – to turn away.
- dextera, -ae f. (1) – right hand.
- sinus, -us m. (4) – bosom, fold.
Versus 12
Deus autem Rex noster ante saecula operatus est salutem in medio terrae.
But God is our King from of old; he has worked salvation in the midst of the earth.
Word Notes:
- opero – operari – operatus sum (dep. 1) – to work, accomplish.
- salus, salutis f. (3) – safety, salvation.
- saeculum, -i n. (2) – age, world.
Versus 13–14
Tu confirmasti in virtute tua mare; contribulasti capita draconum in aquis. Tu confregisti capita draconis; dedisti eum escam populis Aethiopum.
You divided the sea by your strength; you broke the heads of the dragons in the waters. You crushed the head of Leviathan and gave him as food to the people of Ethiopia.
Word Notes:
- confirmo – confirmare – confirmavi – confirmatum (1) – to strengthen.
- contribulo – contribulare – contribulavi – contribulatum (1) – to crush, break.
- caput, -itis n. (3) – head.
- draco, -onis m. (3) – dragon, serpent.
- esca, -ae f. (1) – food.
Versus 15–17
Tu dirupisti fontes et torrentes; tu siccasti flumina Ethan. Tuus est dies, et tua est nox; tu fabricatus es auroram et solem. Tu fecisti omnes terminos terrae; aestatem et ver tu plasmasti.
You opened up springs and torrents; you dried up the rivers of Ethan. Yours is the day, and yours the night; you made the dawn and the sun. You established all the boundaries of the earth; summer and spring you formed.
Word Notes:
- dirumpo – dirumpere – dirupi – diruptum (3) – to burst, break open.
- sicco – siccare – siccavi – siccatum (1) – to dry up.
- fabrico – fabricare – fabricavi – fabricatum (1) – to make, form.
- plasma, -atis n. (3) – form, creation (rare noun form from plasmare).
Versus 18
Memor esto hujus: inimicus improperavit Domino, et populus insipiens incitavit nomen tuum.
Remember this: the enemy has insulted the Lord, and a foolish people has provoked your name.
Word Notes:
- memini – meminisse (def.) – to remember.
- insipiens, -ntis (adj. 3) – foolish, unwise.
- incito – incitare – incitavi – incitatum (1) – to incite, provoke.
Versus 19
Ne tradas bestiis animas confitentium tibi, et animas pauperum tuorum ne obliviscaris in finem.
Do not give to beasts the souls of those who confess you, nor forget the lives of your poor forever.
Word Notes:
- trado – tradere – tradidi – traditum (3) – to hand over, give up.
- bestia, -ae f. (1) – beast.
- confiteor – confiteri – confessus sum (dep. 2) – to confess, praise.
- obliviscor – oblivisci – oblitus sum (dep. 3) – to forget.
Versus 20–21
Respice in testamentum tuum; quia repleti sunt, qui obscurati sunt terrae, domibus iniquitatum. Ne avertatur humilis factus confusus; pauper et inops laudabunt nomen tuum.
Look upon your covenant; for the dark places of the earth are filled with the dwellings of wickedness. Let not the humble be turned away with shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.
Word Notes:
- testamentum, -i n. (2) – covenant.
- obscuro – obscurare – obscuravi – obscuratum (1) – to darken.
- inops, -opis (adj. 3) – needy, poor.
- confundo – confundere – confudi – confusum (3) – to confuse, shame.
Versus 22–23
Exsurge, Deus, judica causam tuam; memor esto improperiorum tuorum eorum, qui ab insipiente sunt tota die. Ne obliviscaris voces inimicorum tuorum; superbia eorum, qui te oderunt, ascendit semper.
Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember the reproaches of the foolish all the day. Do not forget the voices of your enemies; the pride of those who hate you rises continually.
Word Notes:
- exsurgo – exsurgere – exsurrexi – exsurrectum (3) – to arise.
- judico – judicare – judicavi – judicatum (1) – to judge, decide.
- causa, -ae f. (1) – cause, case.
- improperium, -ii n. (2) – reproach, insult.
Summary Commentary
Psalm 74 laments the destruction of the sanctuary — a national catastrophe interpreted as divine withdrawal. Yet even amid ruin, the poet recalls God’s creative power: the one who split the sea and formed day and night can also restore the covenant people. The psalm oscillates between historical memory and theological appeal.
Its structure moves from complaint (Ut quid, Deus…) to remembrance (Tu confirmasti mare…) to petition (Exsurge, Deus). The destruction of the Temple becomes an existential trial of faith, in which memory of creation becomes the foundation of renewed hope.
Exercises
(a) English → Latin Translation
Translate:
- Arise, O God, and judge your cause.
- Do not forget the poor forever.
- Yours is the day, and yours is the night.
- You have made the dawn and the sun.
Key:
- Exsurge, Deus, et judica causam tuam.
- Ne obliviscaris pauperum tuorum in finem.
- Tua est dies, et tua est nox.
- Tu fabricatus es auroram et solem.
(b) Verb Form Practice
Give present, imperfect, future of:
- recordor – recordari (dep.)
- incendo – incendere (3)
- obliviscor – oblivisci (dep. 3)
- dirumpo – dirumpere (3)
- judico – judicare (1)
Model Answers:
- recordor / recordabar / recordabor
- incendo / incendebam / incendam
- obliviscor / obliviscebar / obliviscar
- dirumpo / dirumpebam / dirumpam
- judico / judicabam / judicabo
(c) Reflection Questions
- How does the psalmist use the memory of creation to strengthen his appeal for restoration?
- What emotions dominate the opening verses, and how do they shift by the end?
- What parallels can be drawn between national calamity and personal loss in this text?