Qui regis Israel, intende
Versus 1
Qui regis Israel, intende, qui deducis velut ovem Joseph; qui sedes super cherubim, appare coram Ephraim, Benjamin et Manasse.
You who rule Israel, give ear — you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who sit upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Word Notes:
- rego – regere – rexi – rectum (3) – to rule, guide.
- intendo – intendere – intendi – intentum (3) – to attend, give heed.
- deduco – deducere – deduxi – deductum (3) – to lead, guide.
- ovis, -is f. (3) – sheep.
- appareo – apparere – apparui (2) – to appear, shine forth.
- cherubim (indecl. pl.) – cherubim, angelic figures.
Versus 2
Excita potentiam tuam, et veni, ut salvos facias nos.
Stir up your power, and come to save us.
Word Notes:
- excito – excitare – excitavi – excitatum (1) – to arouse, awaken.
- potentia, -ae f. (1) – power, might.
- salvo – salvare – salvavi – salvatum (1) – to save.
Versus 3
Deus, converte nos, et ostende faciem tuam, et salvi erimus.
O God, convert us; show your face, and we shall be saved.
Word Notes:
- converto – convertere – converti – conversum (3) – to turn, change.
- ostendo – ostendere – ostendi – ostensum (3) – to show.
- salvus, -a, -um (adj. 1/2) – safe, saved.
Versus 4
Domine Deus virtutum, quousque irasceris super orationem servi tui?
O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with the prayer of your servant?
Word Notes:
- virtus, -utis f. (3) – power, host, army.
- quousque (adv.) – how long?
- oratio, -onis f. (3) – prayer.
Versus 5
Cibabis nos pane lacrymarum, et potum dabis nobis in lacrymis in mensura.
You have fed us with the bread of tears, and given us tears to drink in measure.
Word Notes:
- cibo – cibare – cibavi – cibatum (1) – to feed.
- panis, -is m. (3) – bread.
- lacryma, -ae f. (1) – tear.
- mensura, -ae f. (1) – measure, portion.
Versus 6
Posuisti nos in contradictionem vicinis nostris, et inimici nostri subsannaverunt nos.
You have made us a source of contention for our neighbours, and our enemies have mocked us.
Word Notes:
- contradictio, -onis f. (3) – opposition, contradiction.
- inimicus, -i m. (2) – enemy.
- subsanno – subsannare – subsannavi – subsannatum (1) – to mock, sneer.
Versus 7
Deus virtutum, converte nos, et ostende faciem tuam, et salvi erimus.
O God of hosts, convert us; show your face, and we shall be saved.
Word Notes:
(Same as verse 3.)
Versus 8
Vineam de Aegypto transtulisti; ejecisti gentes, et plantasti eam.
You brought a vine out of Egypt; you cast out the nations and planted it.
Word Notes:
- vinea, -ae f. (1) – vine, vineyard.
- transtulo – transferre – transtuli – translatum (irr.) – to carry over, bring across.
- ejicio – ejicere – ejeci – ejectum (3 mix) – to throw out, expel.
- planto – plantare – plantavi – plantatum (1) – to plant.
Versus 9
Dux itineris fuisti in conspectu ejus; plantasti radices ejus, et implevit terram.
You prepared the way before it; you planted its roots, and it filled the land.
Word Notes:
- dux, ducis m. (3) – leader, guide.
- iter, itineris n. (3) – way, journey.
- radix, radicis f. (3) – root.
- impleo – implere – implevi – impletum (2) – to fill.
Versus 10
Operuit montes umbra ejus, et arbusta ejus cedros Dei.
The mountains were covered with its shadow, and its boughs with the cedars of God.
Word Notes:
- operio – operire – operui – opertum (4) – to cover.
- umbra, -ae f. (1) – shadow.
- arbustum, -i n. (2) – thicket, grove, branches.
- cedrus, -i f. (2) – cedar.
Versus 11
Extendit palmites suos usque ad mare, et usque ad flumen propagines ejus.
She stretched out her branches to the sea, and her shoots to the river.
Word Notes:
- palmes, -itis m. (3) – branch, shoot.
- flumen, -inis n. (3) – river.
- propago, -inis f. (3) – offshoot, extension.
Versus 12
Ut quid destruxisti maceriam ejus, et vindemiant eam omnes qui praetergrediuntur viam?
Why have you broken down her wall, so that all who pass by the way pluck her?
Word Notes:
- destruo – destruere – destruxi – destructum (3) – to destroy.
- maceria, -ae f. (1) – wall, enclosure.
- vindemio – vindemiare – vindemiavi – vindemiatum (1) – to gather grapes, pluck.
- praetergredior – praetergredi – praetergressus sum (dep. 3) – to pass by.
Versus 13
Exterminavit eam aper de silva, et singularis ferus depastus est eam.
The boar from the forest ravages it, and the wild beast feeds upon it.
Word Notes:
- extermino – exterminare – exterminavi – exterminatum (1) – to destroy, devastate.
- aper, apri m. (2) – boar.
- silva, -ae f. (1) – forest.
- depascor – depasci – depastus sum (dep. 3) – to graze upon, devour.
Versus 14
Deus virtutum, convertere; respice de caelo, et vide, et visita vineam istam.
O God of hosts, return; look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vine.
Word Notes:
- respicere – respicio – respexi – respectum (3 mix) – to look back, regard.
- video – videre – vidi – visum (2) – to see.
- visito – visitare – visitavi – visitatum (1) – to visit, attend.
Versus 15
Et perfice eam quam plantavit dextera tua, et super filium hominis quem confirmasti tibi.
Perfect that which your right hand has planted, and the son of man whom you have strengthened for yourself.
Word Notes:
- perficio – perficere – perfeci – perfectum (3 mix) – to complete, make perfect.
- dextera, -ae f. (1) – right hand.
- confirmo – confirmare – confirmavi – confirmatum (1) – to strengthen, establish.
Versus 16–17
Incensa igni et suffossa est; ab increpatione vultus tui peribunt. Fiat manus tua super virum dexterae tuae, et super filium hominis quem confirmasti tibi.
It is burned with fire, and dug down; at the rebuke of your countenance they perish. Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, upon the son of man whom you have strengthened for yourself.
Word Notes:
- incendo – incendere – incendi – incensum (3) – to set on fire.
- suffodio – suffodere – suffodi – suffossum (3) – to dig under.
- increpatio, -onis f. (3) – rebuke.
- vultus, -us m. (4) – face, countenance.
Versus 18
Et non discedimus a te; vivificabis nos, et nomen tuum invocabimus.
And we shall not depart from you; you will revive us, and we shall call upon your name.
Word Notes:
- discedo – discedere – discessi – discessum (3) – to go away, depart.
- vivifico – vivificare – vivificavi – vivificatum (1) – to make alive, revive.
- invoco – invocare – invocavi – invocatum (1) – to call upon.
Versus 19–20
Domine Deus virtutum, converte nos; ostende faciem tuam, et salvi erimus.
O Lord God of hosts, convert us; show your face, and we shall be saved.
Word Notes:
(Repeat of verse 3 – refrain.)
Summary Commentary
Psalm 79 (Vulgate numbering; Psalm 80 in Hebrew) is a national lament framed as a prayer for renewal.
The image of Israel as a vine brought out of Egypt is central — first nurtured by God, then ravaged by neglect and invasion.
Repeated refrains (“Convert us, O God of hosts…”) structure the psalm like liturgical responses, giving rhythm to despair and hope alike.
The “man of your right hand” (v.17) points to the ideal ruler — in Jewish thought, David or the Messianic king; in Christian interpretation, Christ.
The psalm thus moves from national crisis to redemptive anticipation: divine restoration as both political and spiritual renewal.
Exercises
(a) English → Latin Translation
Translate:
- Stir up your power, and come to save us.
- You brought a vine out of Egypt.
- Why have you broken down her wall?
- Show your face, and we shall be saved.
Key:
- Excita potentiam tuam, et veni, ut salvos facias nos.
- Vineam de Aegypto transtulisti.
- Ut quid destruxisti maceriam ejus?
- Ostende faciem tuam, et salvi erimus.
(b) Verb Form Practice
Give present, imperfect, future of:
- rego – regere (3)
- salvo – salvare (1)
- transtulo – transferre (irr.)
- converto – convertere (3)
- vivifico – vivificare (1)
Model Answers:
- rego / regebam / regam
- salvo / salvabam / salvabo
- transfero / transferebam / transferam
- converto / convertebam / convertam
- vivifico / vivificabam / vivificabo
(c) Reflection Questions
- What does the vine symbol tell us about Israel’s relationship with God?
- Why is the refrain “Ostende faciem tuam, et salvi erimus” repeated three times?
- How does the psalm blend history, prophecy, and prayer into a single act of faith?