31 verses total
A psalm of slander, injustice, curse language, and the cry for vindication.
VERSUS 1–20 (Latin + Literal English + Word Notes)
1
Deus, laudem meam ne tacueris:
O God, do not be silent in my praise.
Word Notes:
- laus, laudis f. — praise.
- taceo, tacere — to be silent.
- ne + subj. — “do not…”
2
Quia os peccatoris et os dolosi super me apertum est; locuti sunt adversum me lingua dolosa.
For the mouth of the sinner and the mouth of the deceitful have been opened against me; they have spoken against me with a deceitful tongue.
Word Notes:
- peccator, -oris m. — sinner.
- dolus, -i m. — deceit.
- aperio, aperire — to open.
- adversus — against.
3
Et sermonibus odii circumdederunt me, et expugnaverunt me gratis.
With words of hatred they encircled me, and they attacked me without cause.
Word Notes:
- sermo, -onis m. — speech, word.
- odio (abl.) — with hatred.
- circumdo, circumdare — to surround.
- expugno, expugnare — to assault, overcome.
- gratis — without cause.
4
Pro eo ut me diligerent, detrahebant mihi; ego autem orabam.
Instead of loving me, they slandered me; but I, for my part, prayed.
Word Notes:
- diligo, diligere — to love, esteem.
- detraho, detrahere — to detract, slander.
- oro, orare — to pray.
5
Et posuerunt adversus me mala pro bonis, et odium pro dilectione mea.
And they set evil against me for good, and hatred for my love.
Word Notes:
- pono, ponere — to set, place.
- malum, -i n. — evil.
- bonum, -i n. — good.
- odium, -ii n. — hatred.
- dilectio, -onis f. — love.
6
Constitue super eum peccatorem, et diabolus stet a dextris eius.
Set over him a sinner, and let the accuser stand at his right hand.
Word Notes:
- constituo, constituere — appoint, set over.
- peccator — here: “wicked judge.”
- diabolus — literally “accuser” (Gk. diabolos).
- stet — subj. of sto, stare.
7
Cum iudicatur, exeat condemnatus, et oratio eius fiat in peccatum.
When he is judged, let him depart condemned, and let his prayer become sin.
Word Notes:
- iudico, -are — to judge.
- exeo, exire — to go out.
- condemnatus — condemned.
- fiat — subj. of fio, to become.
8
Fiant dies eius pauci, et episcopatum eius accipiat alter.
Let his days be few, and let another take his office.
Word Notes:
- dies, diei m. — day.
- episcopatus, -us m. — oversight, office. (Acts 1:20 quotation)
9
Fiant filii eius orphani, et uxor eius vidua.
Let his children become orphans, and his wife a widow.
Word Notes:
- orphani — orphans.
- vidua, -ae f. — widow.
10
Nutantes transferantur filii eius, et mendicent; et eiciantur de habitationibus suis.
Let his children be driven about, and beg; and let them be cast out from their dwellings.
Word Notes:
- nuto, nutare — to totter, stagger.
- transfero, transferre — to carry away, remove.
- mendico, -are — to beg.
- eicio, eicere — to cast out.
11
Scrutetur fenerator omnem substantiam eius, et diripiant alieni labores eius.
Let the money-lender search out all his substance, and strangers plunder his labours.
Word Notes:
- fenerator, -oris m. — usurer.
- substantia, -ae f. — wealth, substance.
- diripio, diripere — to plunder, tear apart.
12
Non sit illi adiutor, nec sit qui misereatur pupillis eius.
Let there be for him no helper, nor anyone to pity his orphans.
Word Notes:
- adiutor, -oris m. — helper.
- misereor, misereri — to have mercy.
13
Fiant nati eius in interitum; in generatione una deleatur nomen eius.
Let his descendants be for destruction; in one generation let his name be blotted out.
Word Notes:
- interitus, -us m. — ruin, destruction.
- delere — to erase, blot out.
14
In memoriam redeat iniquitas patrum eius in conspectu Domini, et peccatum matris eius non deleatur.
Let the iniquity of his fathers return to memory before the Lord, and the sin of his mother not be wiped out.
Word Notes:
- in memoriam redire — to come back to remembrance.
- iniquitas — injustice.
- deleatur — subj. of deleto.
15
Fiant contra Dominum semper, et dispereat de terra memoria eorum.
Let them be before the Lord always, and let the memory of them perish from the earth.
Word Notes:
- semper — always.
- dispareo, -ere — to vanish.
16
Pro eo quod non est recordatus facere misericordiam, et persecutus est hominem inopem et mendicum…
Because he did not remember to show mercy, and persecuted the poor and needy man…
Word Notes:
- recordor, recordari — to remember.
- inops, inopis — helpless, destitute.
- mendicus, -i m. — beggar.
17
Et compungere corde aegrum, et persecutus est eum in mortem.
And to strike down the broken-hearted, and he pursued him unto death.
Word Notes:
- compungo, -ere — to pierce, strike down.
- aeger, aegra — sick, wounded.
- persequor, -i — to pursue.
18
Et dilexit maledictionem, et veniet ei; et noluit benedictionem, et elongabitur ab eo.
And he loved cursing, and it will come to him; he would not have blessing, and it will be far from him.
Word Notes:
- maledictio, -onis f. — curse.
- benedictio, -onis f. — blessing.
- elongor, -ari — to be far off.
19
Et induetur maledictione sicut vestimento, et intrabit sicut aqua in viscera eius, et sicut oleum in ossa eius.
He clothed himself with cursing like a garment; it entered like water into his bowels, like oil into his bones.
Word Notes:
- induere — to put on (clothing).
- viscera, -um n.pl. — inner parts.
- ossa, -orum n.pl. — bones.
20
Fiat ei sicut vestimentum quo operitur, et sicut zona qua semper praecingitur.
Let it be for him like a garment with which he is covered, and like a belt with which he is always girded.
Word Notes:
- operio, operire — to cover.
- zona, -ae f. — girdle, belt.
- praecingo, praecingere — to gird about.
VERSUS 21–31 (Latin + Literal English)
21
Hoc opus eorum qui detrahunt mihi apud Dominum, et qui loquuntur mala adversus animam meam.
This is the reward of those who slander me before the Lord, and who speak evil against my soul.
22
Et tu, Domine, Domine, fac mecum propter nomen tuum, quia suavis est misericordia tua.
But you, O Lord, deal with me for your name’s sake, for sweet is your mercy.
23
Libera me, quia egenus et pauper sum, et cor meum conturbatum est intra me.
Deliver me, for I am needy and poor, and my heart is troubled within me.
24
Sicut umbra cum declinat, ablatus sum, et excussus sum sicut locustae.
I am taken away like a shadow when it declines, and shaken off like locusts.
25
Genua mea infirmata sunt a ieiunio, et caro mea immutata est propter oleum.
My knees are weak from fasting, and my flesh is altered for lack of fat.
26
Et ego factus sum opprobrium illis; viderunt me et moverunt capita sua.
I have become a reproach to them; they saw me and shook their heads.
27
Adiuva me, Domine Deus meus; salvum me fac secundum misericordiam tuam.
Help me, O Lord my God; save me according to your mercy.
28
Et scient quia manus tua haec; et tu, Domine, fecisti eam.
And they shall know that this is your hand; you, O Lord, have done it.
29
Maledicent illi, et tu benedices; qui insurgunt in me confundantur; servus autem tuus laetabitur.
Let them curse, but you will bless; let those who rise against me be confounded, but your servant shall rejoice.
30
Induantur qui detrahunt mihi pudore, et operiantur sicut diplotide confusione sua.
Let those who slander me be clothed with shame, and covered with their confusion like a double cloak.
31
Confitebor Domino vehementer in ore meo, et in medio multorum laudabo eum.
I will greatly give thanks to the Lord with my mouth, and in the midst of many I will praise him.
MORPHOLOGICAL EXERCISES (10)
Identify tense, voice, mood, and give principal parts:
- locuti sunt
- expugnaverunt
- posuerunt
- constitu(e)
- fiat
- excutior
- conturbatum est
- libera
- moverunt
- operiantur
TRANSLATION EXERCISES (10)
Translate into Latin:
- They spoke against me with a deceitful tongue.
- They gave hatred in return for my love.
- Set over him a wicked judge.
- Let another take his office.
- His children became wanderers.
- He loved cursing and it came to him.
- Remember mercy, O Lord.
- My heart is troubled within me.
- Save me according to your mercy.
- Let them be clothed with shame.
SUMMARY (≈100 words)
Psalm 108 is the darkest of the imprecatory psalms, emerging from profound experience of slander, betrayal, and public disgrace. The psalmist contrasts the hatred directed toward him with his own commitment to prayer. Intensely figurative curse-language expresses both the extremity of anguish and the moral seriousness of injustice. Yet the psalm is not merely vindictive: the latter verses shift to lament, weakness, fasting, and helplessness. Divine justice, not private vengeance, is the psalmist’s hope. The prayer ends with confident praise, trusting that God’s hand will reveal truth, confound evil, and restore dignity to the afflicted.
REFLECTION QUESTION
When facing hostility or slander, what part of you instinctively seeks retaliation, and what part seeks to hand the matter over to God (or conscience) for judgment?