Benedixisti, Domine, terram tuam
(= Psalm 85 in Hebrew numbering)
Versus 1
Benedixisti, Domine, terram tuam; avertisti captivitatem Jacob.
You have blessed your land, O Lord; you have turned back the captivity of Jacob.
Word Notes:
- benedico – benedicere – benedixi – benedictum (3) – to bless.
- terra, -ae f. (1) – land, earth.
- averto – avertere – averti – aversum (3) – to turn away/back.
- captivitas, -atis f. (3) – captivity.
- Jacob, indecl. – Jacob/Israel.
Versus 2
Remisisti iniquitatem plebis tuae; operuisti omnes peccata eorum.
You have forgiven the iniquity of your people; you have covered all their sins.
Word Notes:
- remitto – remittere – remisi – remissum (3) – to forgive, remit.
- plebs, plebis f. (3) – people.
- operio – operire – operui – opertum (4) – to cover.
- peccatum, -i n. (2) – sin.
Versus 3
Mitigasti omnem iram tuam; avertisti ab ira indignationis tuae.
You have softened all your anger; you have turned from the fury of your indignation.
Word Notes:
- mitigo – mitigare – mitigavi – mitigatum (1) – to soften, appease.
- ira, -ae f. (1) – anger, wrath.
- indignatio, -onis f. (3) – indignation, outrage.
Versus 4
Converte nos, Deus salutaris noster; et averte iram tuam a nobis.
Restore us, O God our Saviour; and turn your anger away from us.
Word Notes:
- converto – convertere – converti – conversum (3) – to turn, restore.
- salutaris, -e (adj. 3) – saving, health-giving.
- nos – us.
Versus 5
Numquid in aeternum irasceris nobis? aut extendes iram tuam a generatione in generationem?
Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger from generation to generation?
Word Notes:
- irascor – irasci – iratus sum (dep. 3) – to be angry.
- aeternum – forever.
- generatio, -onis f. (3) – generation.
- extendo – extendere – extendi – extentum (3) – to stretch out, prolong.
Versus 6
Deus, tu conversus vivificabis nos, et plebs tua laetabitur in te.
O God, you who turn again will revive us, and your people will rejoice in you.
Word Notes:
- vivifico – vivificare – vivificavi – vivificatum (1) – to make alive, revive.
- laetor – laetari – laetatus sum (dep. 1) – to rejoice.
Versus 7
Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam, et salutare tuum da nobis.
Show us your mercy, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.
Word Notes:
- ostendo – ostendere – ostendi – ostentum (3) – to show.
- misericordia, -ae f. (1) – mercy.
- salutare, -is n. (3) – salvation.
Versus 8
Audiam quid loquatur in me Dominus Deus; quoniam loquetur pacem in plebem suam.
I will hear what the Lord God will speak within me; for he will speak peace to his people.
Word Notes:
- audio – audire – audivi – auditum (4) – to hear.
- loquor – loqui – locutus sum (dep. 3) – to speak.
- pax, pacis f. (3) – peace.
Versus 9
Et super sanctos suos, et in eos qui convertuntur ad cor.
And to his saints, and to those who turn their heart toward him.
Word Notes:
- super – upon, over.
- sanctus, -i m. (2) – holy one.
- converto / convertor – to turn; convertuntur – they turn (pass./dep.).
- cor, cordis n. (3) – heart.
Versus 10
Verumtamen prope timentes eum salutare ipsius, ut inhabitet gloria in terra nostra.
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
Word Notes:
- prope – near.
- timeo – timere – timui (2) – to fear.
- inhabito – inhabitare – inhabitavi – inhabitatum (1) – to dwell.
- gloria, -ae f. (1) – glory.
Versus 11
Misericordia et veritas obviaverunt sibi; justitia et pax osculatae sunt.
Mercy and truth have met each other; justice and peace have kissed.
Word Notes:
- misericordia, -ae f. (1) – mercy.
- veritas, -atis f. (3) – truth.
- obviō – obviare – obviavi – obviatum (1) – to meet.
- justitia, -ae f. (1) – justice.
- osculor – osculari – osculatus sum (dep. 1) – to kiss.
Versus 12
Veritas de terra orta est; et justitia de caelo prospexit.
Truth has sprung up from the earth; and justice has looked down from heaven.
Word Notes:
- orior – oriri – ortus sum (dep. 4) – to rise, spring up.
- prospecto – prospectare – prospectavi – prospectatum (1) (later prose)
or prospicio – prospicere – prospexi – prospectum (3) – to look forth.
Versus 13
Etenim Dominus dabit benignitatem; et terra nostra dabit fructum suum.
Indeed the Lord will give goodness; and our land will yield its fruit.
Word Notes:
- benignitas, -atis f. (3) – kindness, goodness.
- fructus, -us m. (4) – fruit, produce.
- do – dare – dedi – datum (1) – to give.
Versus 14
Justitia ante eum ambulabit, et ponet in via gressus suos.
Justice will go before him, and will set his steps upon the way.
Word Notes:
- ante – before, in front of.
- ambulo – ambulare – ambulavi – ambulatum (1) – to walk.
- pono – ponere – posui – positum (3) – to set, place.
- gressus, -us m. (4) – step.
Summary Commentary
Psalm 84 (Vulgate) is a psalm of restoration after exile or national catastrophe. It follows a clear spiritual pattern:
- Memory of Grace (vv. 1–3).
The psalmist recalls God’s past mercy — forgiveness, restoration, the turning away of wrath. - Present Plea (vv. 4–7).
Having remembered grace, he boldly asks for renewal: “Restore us… revive us… show us your mercy.” - Inner Listening (v. 8).
One of the rare moments in the Psalms where the psalmist speaks of hearing God within:
“Audiam quid loquatur in me Dominus Deus.” - The Vision of Harmony (vv. 11–12).
Mercy and truth meeting; justice and peace embracing — this is the psalm’s poetic climax and one of the most beautiful metaphors in scripture, anticipating your theme of inner reconciliation. - Promise of Renewal (vv. 13–14).
The land will bear fruit again, because justice prepares the way.
This psalm is perfectly aligned with your core project: the moral and psychological interpretation of scripture, where justice, mercy, truth, and peace become inner realities.
Exercises
(a) English → Latin Translation
- You have forgiven the iniquity of your people.
- Restore us, O God our Saviour.
- Mercy and truth have met each other.
- The land will give its fruit.
Key:
- Remisisti iniquitatem plebis tuae.
- Converte nos, Deus salutaris noster.
- Misericordia et veritas obviaverunt sibi.
- Terra dabit fructum suum.
(b) Verb Form Practice
Present / imperfect / future:
- remitto – remittere
- mitigo – mitigare
- ostendo – ostendere
- orior – oriri
- pōno – ponere
Model Answers:
- remitto / remittebam / remittam
- mitigo / mitigabam / mitigabo
- ostendo / ostendebam / ostendam
- orior / oriebar / oriar
- pono / ponebam / ponam
(c) Reflection Questions
- How does the psalm move from despair to hope?
- What does the meeting of “mercy and truth” symbolise?
- How does this psalm support your theme that spiritual renewal begins inwardly before it appears outwardly (e.g., in “the land”)?