Exsultate Deo adjutori nostro
Versus 1
Exsultate Deo adjutori nostro; jubilate Deo Jacob.
Rejoice in God our helper; shout with joy to the God of Jacob.
Word Notes:
- exsulto – exsultare – exsultavi – exsultatum (1) – to rejoice, exult.
- adjutor, -oris m. (3) – helper, supporter.
- jubilo – jubilare – jubilavi – jubilatum (1) – to shout for joy.
- Deus, -i m. (2) – God.
- Jacob, indecl. – Jacob (patriarch, representing Israel).
Versus 2
Sumite psalmum, et date tympanum; psalterium jucundum cum cithara.
Take up the psalm, and bring the tambourine; the pleasant psaltery with the harp.
Word Notes:
- sumo – sumere – sumpsi – sumptum (3) – to take up.
- psalmus, -i m. (2) – psalm, song.
- tympanum, -i n. (2) – tambourine, drum.
- psalterium, -ii n. (2) – stringed instrument, psaltery.
- cithara, -ae f. (1) – harp, lyre.
Versus 3
Buccinate in neomenia tuba, in insigni die solemnitatis vestrae.
Blow the trumpet at the new moon, on the solemn day of your feast.
Word Notes:
- buccino – buccinare – buccinavi – buccinatum (1) – to sound a trumpet.
- neomenia, -ae f. (1) – new moon.
- tuba, -ae f. (1) – trumpet.
- insignis, -e (adj. 3) – distinguished, notable.
- solemnitas, -atis f. (3) – festival, solemn day.
Versus 4
Quia praeceptum in Israel est, et judicium Deo Jacob.
For this is a statute for Israel, a law of the God of Jacob.
Word Notes:
- praeceptum, -i n. (2) – precept, command.
- judicium, -ii n. (2) – judgment, ordinance.
Versus 5
Testimonium in Joseph posuit illud, cum exiret de terra Aegypti; linguam quam non noverat, audivit.
He established it as a testimony in Joseph, when he went out from the land of Egypt; a language he had not known he heard.
Word Notes:
- testimonium, -ii n. (2) – testimony, witness.
- pono – ponere – posui – positum (3) – to set, place.
- exeo – exire – exii – exitum (irr.) – to go out.
- Aegyptus, -i f. (2) – Egypt.
- lingua, -ae f. (1) – language, tongue.
- nosco – noscere – novi – notum (3) – to know.
- audio – audire – audivi – auditum (4) – to hear.
Versus 6
Divertit ab oneribus dorsum ejus; manus ejus in cophino servierunt.
He removed his shoulder from the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.
Word Notes:
- diverto – divertere – diverti – diversum (3) – to turn aside, remove.
- onus, -eris n. (3) – burden, load.
- dorsum, -i n. (2) – back, shoulder.
- cophinus, -i m. (2) – basket (for carrying clay or bricks).
- servio – servire – servivi – servitum (4) – to serve.
Versus 7
In tribulatione invocasti me, et liberavi te; exaudivi te in abscondito tempestatis; probavi te apud aquam contradictionis.
In trouble you called on me, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of the storm; I tested you at the waters of contention.
Word Notes:
- invoco – invocare – invocavi – invocatum (1) – to call upon.
- libero – liberare – liberavi – liberatum (1) – to free, deliver.
- exaudio – exaudire – exaudivi – exauditum (4) – to hear favourably.
- absconditum, -i n. (2) – secret, hiding place.
- tempestas, -atis f. (3) – storm, tempest.
- probo – probare – probavi – probatum (1) – to test, try.
- contradictio, -onis f. (3) – dispute, contradiction.
Versus 8
Audi, populus meus, et contestabor te; Israel, si audieris me.
Hear, my people, and I will testify to you; O Israel, if only you would listen to me!
Word Notes:
- audio – audire – audivi – auditum (4) – to hear.
- contestor – contestari – contestatus sum (dep. 1) – to testify, warn solemnly.
Versus 9
Non erit in te deus recens, neque adorabis deum alienum.
There shall be no strange god in you, nor shall you worship a foreign god.
Word Notes:
- recens, -ntis (adj. 3) – new, recent.
- adoro – adorare – adoravi – adoratum (1) – to worship.
- alienus, -a, -um (adj. 1/2) – foreign, another’s.
Versus 10
Ego enim sum Dominus Deus tuus, qui eduxi te de terra Aegypti; dilata os tuum, et implebo illud.
For I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.
Word Notes:
- educo – educere – eduxi – eductum (3) – to lead out.
- dilato – dilatare – dilatavi – dilatatum (1) – to widen, enlarge.
- impleo – implere – implevi – impletum (2) – to fill.
Versus 11
Et non audivit populus meus vocem meam, et Israel non intendit mihi.
But my people did not hear my voice, and Israel gave me no heed.
Word Notes:
- intendo – intendere – intendi – intentum (3) – to attend, heed.
Versus 12
Et dimisi eos secundum desideria cordis eorum; ibunt in adinventionibus suis.
So I gave them up to the desires of their hearts; they will walk in their own devices.
Word Notes:
- dimitto – dimittere – dimisi – dimissum (3) – to let go, release.
- desiderium, -ii n. (2) – desire, longing.
- cor, cordis n. (3) – heart.
- adinventio, -onis f. (3) – contrivance, device.
Versus 13
Si populus meus audisset me, Israel si in viis meis ambulasset;
If only my people had listened to me, if Israel had walked in my ways;
Word Notes:
- ambulo – ambulare – ambulavi – ambulatum (1) – to walk.
- via, -ae f. (1) – way, path.
Versus 14–15
Pro nihilo forsitan inimicos eorum humiliassem, et super tribulantes eos misissem manum meam. Inimici Domini mentiti sunt ei, et erit tempus eorum in saecula.
I would soon have humbled their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The enemies of the Lord would have submitted to him, and their time would endure forever.
Word Notes:
- nihilum, -i n. (2) – nothing.
- humilio – humiliare – humiliavi – humiliatum (1) – to humble.
- mitto – mittere – misi – missum (3) – to send, stretch out.
- tribulo – tribulare – tribulavi – tribulatum (1) – to afflict.
- mentior – mentiri – mentitus sum (dep. 4) – to lie, deceive.
Versus 16–17
Et cibavit eos ex adipe frumenti, et de petra, melle saturavit eos.
He fed them with the finest of wheat, and with honey out of the rock he satisfied them.
Word Notes:
- cibo – cibare – cibavi – cibatum (1) – to feed.
- adeps, adipis m. (3) – fat, richness.
- frumentum, -i n. (2) – grain, wheat.
- mel, mellis n. (3) – honey.
- saturo – saturare – saturavi – saturatum (1) – to fill, satisfy.
Summary Commentary
Psalm 80 (Vulgate numbering; Psalm 81 in Hebrew) is both festival hymn and prophetic warning.
It opens with music, trumpets, and rejoicing — a call to worship on a holy day. But midway, the tone shifts as God’s voice is heard directly, recalling the Exodus and lamenting Israel’s stubbornness.
The divine lament “My people did not hear my voice” turns the psalm into a moral homily: joy must rest on obedience.
The closing image — “honey from the rock” — transforms physical provision into a symbol of spiritual nourishment: sweetness drawn from hardness, grace from difficulty.
Exercises
(a) English → Latin Translation
Translate:
- Rejoice in God our helper.
- Blow the trumpet at the new moon.
- I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt.
- He fed them with honey from the rock.
Key:
- Exsultate Deo adjutori nostro.
- Buccinate in neomenia tuba.
- Ego sum Dominus Deus tuus, qui eduxi te de terra Aegypti.
- Cibavit eos melle de petra.
(b) Verb Form Practice
Give present, imperfect, future of:
- exsulto – exsultare (1)
- audio – audire (4)
- dimitto – dimittere (3)
- impleo – implere (2)
- saturo – saturare (1)
Model Answers:
- exsulto / exsultabam / exsultabo
- audio / audiebam / audiam
- dimitto / dimittebam / dimittam
- impleo / implebam / implebo
- saturo / saturabam / saturabo
(c) Reflection Questions
- How does this psalm combine celebration and warning in a single composition?
- What spiritual meaning can be drawn from the phrase “honey from the rock”?
- Why is obedience presented as the highest form of joy?