Psalmus 93 (Vulgate)
(= Psalm 94 in Hebrew numbering)
Deus ultionum Dominus
A psalm of moral protest, divine justice, and inner discernment.
No truncation required.
Versus 1
Deus ultionum Dominus; Deus ultionum libere egit.
O Lord God of vengeance; God of vengeance, act openly.
Word Notes:
- ultio, -onis f. (3) – vengeance, retribution.
- libere agere – to act freely, openly, manifestly.
- ago – agere – egi – actum (3) – to do, act.
Versus 2
Exaltare, qui judicas terram; redde retributionem superbis.
Rise up, O judge of the earth; give the proud their due reward.
Word Notes:
- exalto – exaltare (1) – to raise up, exalt.
- judico – judicare (1) – to judge.
- superbus, -a, -um – proud, arrogant.
- retributio, -onis f. – recompense, repayment.
Versus 3
Usquequo peccatores, Domine; usquequo peccatores gloriabuntur?
How long, O Lord, how long shall the sinners boast?
Word Notes:
- usquequo – how long?
- glorior – gloriari – gloriatus sum (dep. 1) – to boast.
Versus 4
Effabuntur et loquentur iniquitatem; loquentur omnes qui operantur injustitiam.
They pour out and speak iniquity; all who work injustice speak boldly.
Word Notes:
- effor – effari – effatus sum (dep.) – to speak out, utter.
- loquor – loqui – locutus sum (dep.) – to speak.
- inquitas, -atis f. – injustice, wrongdoing.
- operor – operari – to work, perform.
Versus 5
Populum tuum, Domine, humiliaverunt; et hereditatem tuam vexaverunt.
They have crushed your people, O Lord; and afflicted your inheritance.
Word Notes:
- humilio – humiliare – to humble, oppress.
- hereditas, -atis f. – inheritance.
- vexo – vexare – to harass, afflict.
Versus 6
Viduam et advenam interfecerunt, et pupillos occiderunt.
They have slain the widow and the foreigner, and killed the orphans.
Word Notes:
- vidua, -ae f. (1) – widow.
- advena, -ae m./f. – stranger, foreigner.
- pupillus, -i m. – orphan.
Versus 7
Et dixerunt: Non videbit Dominus, nec intelliget Deus Jacob.
And they say: “The Lord will not see; the God of Jacob will not understand.”
Word Notes:
- video – videre – to see.
- intelligo – intelligere – to perceive, understand.
Versus 8
Intelligite, insipientes in populo; et stulti aliquando sapite.
Understand, you dull-witted among the people; and fools, at last become wise.
Word Notes:
- insipiens, -entis – foolish, senseless.
- stultus, -i m. – fool.
- sapio – sapere – to be wise.
Versus 9
Qui plantavit aurem, non audiet? aut qui finxit oculum, non considerat?
He who planted the ear, will he not hear?
He who formed the eye, will he not see?
Word Notes:
- planto – plantare – to plant.
- aurem plantare – figuratively, to “design” the ear.
- fingo – fingere – finxi – fictum (3) – to form, fashion.
Versus 10
Qui corripit gentes, non arguet; qui docet hominem scientiam?
He who chastises the nations, will he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge?
Word Notes:
- corripio – corripere – to chastise.
- arguo – arguere – argui – argutum – to rebuke, prove wrong.
Versus 11
Dominus scit cogitationes hominum, quoniam vanæ sunt.
The Lord knows the thoughts of men, that they are vain.
Word Notes:
- cogitatio, -onis f. – thought.
- vanus, -a, -um – empty, futile.
Versus 12
Beatus homo, quem tu erudieris, Domine, et de lege tua docueris eum.
Blessed is the man whom you instruct, O Lord, and teach out of your law.
Word Notes:
- erudio – erudire – to instruct, educate.
- lex, legis f. (3) – law.
Versus 13
Ut mitiges ei a diebus malis, donec fodiatur peccatori fovea.
To give him relief in evil days, until a pit is dug for the sinner.
Word Notes:
- mitigo – mitigare – to soften, give respite.
- fodio – fodere – fodi – fossum – to dig.
- fovea, -ae f. (1) – pit, trap.
Versus 14
Quia non repellet Dominus plebem suam, et hæreditatem suam non derelinquet.
For the Lord will not reject his people, nor forsake his inheritance.
Versus 15
Quoadusque justitia convertatur in judicium; et qui juxta illam omnes qui recto sunt corde.
Until justice returns to judgment, and all who are upright in heart follow it.
Word Notes:
- converto – convertere – to turn back, return.
- rectus, -a, -um – straight, upright.
Versus 16
Quis consurget mihi adversus malignantes? aut quis stabit mecum adversus operantes iniquitatem?
Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand with me against those who work wickedness?
Versus 17
Nisi quia Dominus adjutavit me, paulo minus habitasset in inferno anima mea.
Unless the Lord had helped me, my soul had almost dwelt in the grave.
Word Notes:
- adjuto – adjutare – to help, assist.
- infernum / inferus – the underworld, grave.
Versus 18
Si dicebam: Motus est pes meus; misericordia tua, Domine, adjuvabat me.
If I said, “My foot has slipped,” your mercy, O Lord, supported me.
Versus 19
Secundum multitudinem dolorum meorum in corde meo, consolationes tuæ lætificaverunt animam meam.
According to the multitude of sorrows in my heart, your consolations have gladdened my soul.
Word Notes:
- dolor, -oris m. – sorrow, grief.
- consolatio, -onis f. – consolation, comfort.
- laetifico – laetificare – to gladden.
Versus 20
Numquid adhæret tibi sedes iniquitatis, qui fingis laborem in præcepto?
Shall the throne of iniquity cling to you, which fashions oppression under the guise of law?
Word Notes:
- adhaereo – adhaerere – to cling to, be joined to.
- labor, -oris – trouble, toil.
- praeceptum, -i n. – command, decree.
Versus 21
Captabunt in animam justi, et sanguinem innocentem condemnabunt.
They lie in wait for the soul of the just, and condemn innocent blood.
Versus 22
Et factus est mihi Dominus in refugium; et Deus meus in adjutorium spei meæ.
But the Lord has become my refuge; and my God the help of my hope.
Versus 23
Et reddet illis iniquitatem ipsorum, et in malitia eorum disperdet eos; disperdet illos Dominus Deus noster.
And he will repay them their iniquity, and in their malice he will destroy them; the Lord our God will destroy them.
Summary Commentary
Psalm 93 (Vulgate) is one of the strongest “protest psalms,” where the inner life confronts injustice.
- The cry “How long?” is psychological as well as moral.
It reflects the tension between outer injustice and inner hope. - The psalm exposes self-deception.
“The Lord will not see…” — this is the human fantasy that injustice goes unnoticed. - The rhetorical questions (vv. 9–11) are philosophical.
The creator of the eye and ear must perceive and hear.
This cuts through cynicism and despair. - The inner consolation (v. 19) is the turning point.
“Your consolations gladdened my soul” is the psychological core:
the inner God counters the outer chaos. - The psalm ends with justice, not vengeance.
The destruction of the wicked is symbolic of the collapse of falseness —
the triumph of inner clarity.
Exercises
(a) English → Latin Translation
- How long shall sinners boast?
- Your consolations have gladdened my soul.
- The Lord has become my refuge.
- He who formed the eye, will he not see?
Key:
- Usquequo peccatores gloriabuntur?
- Consolationes tuae laetificaverunt animam meam.
- Factus est mihi Dominus in refugium.
- Qui finxit oculum, non considerat?
(b) Verb Form Practice
Give present / imperfect / future for:
- gloriOr – gloriārī
- intellegO – intellegere
- erudiO – erudire
- laetificO – laetificare
- dispErdo – disperdere
Model Answers:
glorior / gloriabar / glorabor
intellego / intellegebam / intellegam
erudio / erudiebam / erudiam
laetifico / laetificabam / laetificabo
disperdo / disperdebam / disperdam
(c) Reflection Questions
What does it mean psychologically for the Lord to be “the help of my hope”?
Which part of this psalm most resonates with contemporary injustice?
How do the rhetorical questions (vv. 9–11) challenge skepticism or despair?