— Psalm 125 (Hebrew / English)
Qui confidunt in Domino
By GRAHAM JOHN
A psalm of quiet confidence, contrasting the stability of trust with the impermanence of oppression, and affirming moral endurance rather than triumph.
5 verses total
VERSUS 1–5 (LATIN + LITERAL ENGLISH + WORD NOTES)
1
Qui confidunt in Domino, sicut mons Sion: non commovebitur in aeternum, qui habitat in Ierusalem.
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion: he will not be shaken forever, who dwells in Jerusalem.
Word Notes:
- confido, confidere, confisus sum — to trust, rely (semi-deponent)
- Dominus, Domini m. — Lord
- sicut — like, as
- mons, montis m. — mountain
- commoveo, commovere, commovi, commotum — to shake, move
- in aeternum — forever
- habito, habitare, habitavi, habitatum — to dwell
- Ierusalem — Jerusalem (indeclinable)
2
Montes in circuitu eius; et Dominus in circuitu populi sui, ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum.
Mountains surround it; and the Lord surrounds his people, from now and forever.
Word Notes:
- circumitus, -us m. — surrounding, encircling
- populus, populi m. — people
- sum, esse, fui, futurus — to be
- usque in saeculum — forever
3
Quia non relinquet Dominus virgam peccatorum super sortem iustorum; ut non extendant iusti ad iniquitatem manus suas.
For the Lord will not leave the sceptre of the wicked over the lot of the just, lest the just stretch out their hands toward injustice.
Word Notes:
- relinquo, relinquere, reliqui, relictum — to leave, abandon
- virga, virgae f. — rod, sceptre
- peccator, peccatoris m. — sinner, wrongdoer
- sors, sortis f. — lot, portion
- iustus, iusti m. — just person
- extendo, extendere, extendi, extentum — to stretch out
- iniquitas, iniquitatis f. — injustice
- manus, manus f. — hand
4
Benefac, Domine, bonis, et rectis corde.
Do good, O Lord, to the good and to the upright in heart.
Word Notes:
- benefacio, benefacere, benefeci, benefactum — to do good to
- bonus, bona, bonum — good
- rectus, recta, rectum — upright, straight
- cor, cordis n. — heart, inner self
5
Declinantes autem in obligationes adducet Dominus cum operantibus iniquitatem; pax super Israel.
But those who turn aside into crooked ways the Lord will lead away with those who work injustice; peace upon Israel.
Word Notes:
- declino, declinare, declinavi, declinatum — to turn aside
- obligatio, obligationis f. — crooked path, deviation (Vulgate usage)
- adduco, adducere, adduxi, adductum — to lead, bring
- operor, operari, operatus sum — to work (deponent)
- iniquitas, iniquitatis f. — injustice
- pax, pacis f. — peace
- Israel — Israel (indeclinable)
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES (6)
Identify tense, voice, mood, and principal parts:
- confidunt
- commovebitur
- relinquet
- extendant
- benefac
- adducet
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES — KEY
- confidunt
- Verb: confido, confidere, confisus sum
- Tense: present
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: they trust
- commovebitur
- Verb: commoveo, commovere, commovi, commotum
- Tense: future
- Voice: passive
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: will be shaken
- relinquet
- Verb: relinquo, relinquere, reliqui, relictum
- Tense: future
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: he will leave
- extendant
- Verb: extendo, extendere, extendi, extentum
- Tense: present
- Voice: active
- Mood: subjunctive (negative purpose clause)
- Meaning: they may stretch out
- benefac
- Verb: benefacio, benefacere, benefeci, benefactum
- Tense: present
- Voice: active
- Mood: imperative
- Meaning: do good
- adducet
- Verb: adduco, adducere, adduxi, adductum
- Tense: future
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: he will lead
TRANSLATION EXERCISES (6)
Translate into Latin:
- Those who trust in the Lord will not be shaken.
- The Lord surrounds his people forever.
- He will not leave the sceptre of the wicked.
- Lest the just stretch out their hands to injustice.
- Do good to the upright in heart.
- Peace be upon Israel.
TRANSLATION EXERCISES — KEY
- Qui confidunt in Domino non commovebuntur.
- Dominus in circuitu populi sui est in aeternum.
- Non relinquet Dominus virgam peccatorum.
- Ne iusti ad iniquitatem manus suas extendant.
- Benefac bonis et rectis corde.
- Pax super Israel.
SUMMARY (≈100 words)
Psalm 124 presents trust as moral stability rather than immunity from pressure. The image of Mount Zion suggests endurance, not isolation: the just remain in place while forces move around them. Power (virga peccatorum) is permitted only temporarily, lest prolonged injustice deform even the righteous. The psalm recognises moral risk as real, not theoretical. Its prayer is restrained — not for victory, but for goodness and uprightness to be preserved. The final blessing of peace is understated, implying that peace arises when justice is neither abandoned nor imitated in its methods.
REFLECTION QUESTION
Where in your own life have you sensed that prolonged injustice, rather than open threat, posed the greater danger to integrity?