Inclina, Domine, aurem tuam
(= Psalm 86 in Hebrew numbering)
Versus 1
Inclina, Domine, aurem tuam, et exaudi me; quoniam inops et pauper sum ego.
Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear me; for I am needy and poor.
Word Notes:
- inclino – inclinare – inclinavi – inclinatum (1) – to bend, incline.
- auris, auris f. (3) – ear.
- inops, inopis (adj. 3) – needy, helpless.
- pauper, -eris (adj. 3) – poor.
Versus 2
Custodi animam meam, quoniam sanctus sum; salvum fac servum tuum, Deus meus, sperantem in te.
Guard my soul, for I am devoted; save your servant, O my God, who trusts in you.
Word Notes:
- custodio – custodire – custodivi – custoditum (4) – to guard.
- animus/anima – soul, life.
- sanctus, -a, -um – holy, devoted, set apart.
- servo – servare – servavi – servatum (1) – to save, preserve.
- spero – sperare – speravi – speratum (1) – to trust, hope.
Versus 3
Miserere mei, Domine, quoniam ad te clamavi tota die.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for to you I cry all day long.
Word Notes:
- miseror / misereor – misereri – miseritus sum (dep. 2) – to have mercy.
- clamo – clamare – clamavi – clamatum (1) – to cry out.
Versus 4
Laetifica animam servi tui, quoniam ad te, Domine, animam meam levavi.
Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I have lifted up my soul.
Word Notes:
- laetifico – laetificare – laetificavi – laetificatum (1) – to gladden.
- levo – levare – levavi – levatum (1) – to lift, raise.
Versus 5
Quoniam tu, Domine, suavis et mitis; et multae misericordiae omnibus invocantibus te.
For you, O Lord, are gentle and kind, and full of mercy to all who call upon you.
Word Notes:
- suavis, -e (adj. 3) – sweet, gentle.
- mitis, -e (adj. 3) – mild, gentle.
- invoco – invocare – invocavi – invocatum (1) – to call upon.
Versus 6
Auribus percipe, Domine, orationem meam, et intende voci deprecationis meae.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer, and attend to the voice of my supplication.
Word Notes:
- percipio – percipere – percepi – perceptum (3) – to perceive, hear.
- intendo – intendere – intendi – intentum (3) – to attend, heed.
- deprecatio, -onis f. (3) – supplication.
Versus 7
In die tribulationis meae clamavi ad te, quia exaudisti me.
In the day of my trouble I cried to you, for you have heard me.
Word Notes:
- tribulatio, -onis f. (3) – trouble, distress.
- exaudio – exaudire – exaudivi – exauditum (4) – to hear favourably.
Versus 8
Non est similis tui in diis, Domine, et non est secundum opera tua.
There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, and none equal to your works.
Word Notes:
- similis, -e (adj. 3) – like, similar.
- secundum – according to, equal to.
- opus, operis n. (3) – work, deed.
Versus 9
Omnes gentes quascumque fecisti venient et adorabunt coram te, Domine, et glorificabunt nomen tuum.
All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.
Word Notes:
- gens, gentis f. (3) – nation.
- adoro – adorare – adoravi – adoratum (1) – to worship.
- glorifico – glorificare – glorificavi – glorificatum (1) – to glorify.
Versus 10
Quoniam magnus es tu, et faciens mirabilia; tu es Deus solus.
For you are great and do marvellous deeds; you alone are God.
Word Notes:
- mirabile, -is n. (3) – a wonder, marvellous thing.
- facio – facere – feci – factum (3) – to do, make.
- solus, -a, -um – alone, only.
Versus 11
Deduc me, Domine, in via tua, et ingrediar in veritate tua; laetetur cor meum ut timeat nomen tuum.
Lead me, O Lord, in your way, and I will walk in your truth; let my heart rejoice that it may fear your name.
Word Notes:
- deduco – deducere – deduxi – deductum (3) – to lead.
- ingredior – ingredi – ingressus sum (dep. 3) – to walk, enter.
- timeo – timere – timui (2) – to fear.
Versus 12
Confitebor tibi, Domine Deus meus, in toto corde meo, et glorificabo nomen tuum in aeternum.
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify your name forever.
Word Notes:
- confiteor – confiteri – confessus sum (dep. 2) – to confess, praise, give thanks.
- in toto corde meo – with all my heart.
Versus 13
Quia misericordia tua magna est super me; et eruisti animam meam ex inferno inferiori.
For great is your mercy toward me; and you have delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
Word Notes:
- magnus, -a, -um – great.
- eruo – eruere – erui – erutum (3) – to rescue, pluck out.
- inferus / infernus – the lower regions, underworld.
- infernus inferior – “the lowest hell”.
Versus 14
Deus, iniqui insurrexerunt super me, et synagoga potentium quaesierunt animam meam, et non proposuerunt te in conspectu suo.
O God, the wicked have risen against me, and the assembly of the mighty have sought my life, and they have not set you before their eyes.
Word Notes:
- insurgo – insurgere – insurrexi – insurrectum (3) – to rise up.
- potens, potentis (adj. 3) – powerful.
- quaero – quaerere – quaesivi – quaesitum (3) – to seek.
- conspectus, -us m. (4) – sight, presence.
Versus 15
Et tu, Domine, Deus miserator et misericors, patiens et multae misericordiae, et verax.
But you, O Lord, are a God compassionate and merciful, patient, rich in mercy, and true.
Word Notes:
- miserator, -oris m. (3) – compassionate one.
- patiens, -ntis (adj. 3) – patient, long-suffering.
- verax, -acis (adj. 3) – truthful, faithful.
Versus 16
Respice in me, et miserere mei; da imperium tuum puero tuo, et salvum fac filium ancillae tuae.
Look upon me and have mercy on me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your handmaid.
Word Notes:
- imperium, -ii n. (2) – power, authority.
- puer, pueri m. (2) – servant, youth.
- ancilla, -ae f. (1) – handmaid.
Versus 17
Fac mecum signum in bonum, ut videant qui oderunt me, et confundantur; quoniam tu, Domine, adjuvisti me et consolatus es me.
Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see and be confounded; because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Word Notes:
- signum, -i n. (2) – sign.
- confundo – confundere – confudi – confusum (3) – to confound, shame.
- consolor – consolari – consolatus sum (dep. 1) – to comfort.
Summary Commentary
Psalm 85 is a personal prayer of rescue, but woven with deep theology:
- God bends down to the lowly.
The opening “Inclina aurem tuam” is intimate: the infinite stoops toward the poor. - Universal praise grows out of personal salvation.
From “save your servant” (v. 2) the psalm expands to “all nations shall worship you” (v. 9). - Inner guidance.
The heart rejoices so that it may fear God — not terror, but reverent alignment. - Mercy stronger than death.
Deliverance from “inferno inferiori” anticipates your interpretive theme:
spiritual awakening as deliverance from inner darkness.
Exercises
(a) English → Latin Translation
- Incline your ear, O Lord.
- You alone are God.
- Lead me in your way.
- Great is your mercy toward me.
Key:
- Inclina, Domine, aurem tuam.
- Tu es Deus solus.
- Deduc me, Domine, in via tua.
- Magna est misericordia tua super me.
(b) Verb Form Practice
Present / imperfect / future:
- inclino – inclinare
- custodio – custodire
- exaudio – exaudire
- confiteor – confiteri
- eruo – eruere
Model Answers:
- inclino / inclinabam / inclinabo
- custodio / custodiebam / custodiam
- exaudi(o) / exaudiebam / exaudiam
- confiteor / confitebar / confitebor
- eruo / eruebam / eruam
(c) Reflection Questions
- What tone distinguishes this psalm from the more national or communal psalms?
- How does the psalm balance personal distress with universal hope (vv. 9–10)?
- In what way is the prayer for a “sign for good” an expression of inner renewal?