— Psalm 130 (Hebrew / English)
De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine
By GRAHAM JOHN
A psalm of penitence and hope, moving from depth and guilt toward watchful trust, and grounding forgiveness not in denial but in steadfast expectation.
8 verses total
VERSUS 1–8 (LATIN + LITERAL ENGLISH + WORD NOTES)
1
De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine.
From the depths I cried to you, O Lord.
Word Notes:
- profundum, profundi n. — depth, abyss
- clamo, clamare, clamavi, clamatum — to cry out
- Dominus, Domini m. — Lord
2
Domine, exaudi vocem meam; fiant aures tuae intendentes in vocem deprecationis meae.
O Lord, hear my voice; let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
Word Notes:
- exaudio, exaudire, exaudivi, exauditum — to hear favourably
- vox, vocis f. — voice
- fio, fieri, factus sum — to become, be made
- auris, auris f. — ear
- intendo, intendere, intendi, intentum — to attend, direct
- deprecatio, deprecationis f. — supplication
3
Si iniquitates observaveris, Domine, Domine, quis sustinebit?
If you should mark iniquities, O Lord, Lord, who could stand?
Word Notes:
- iniquitas, iniquitatis f. — injustice, guilt
- observo, observare, observavi, observatum — to watch, mark
- sustineo, sustinere, sustinui, sustentum — to endure, stand
4
Quia apud te propitiatio est, et propter legem tuam sustinui te, Domine.
For with you there is forgiveness; and because of your law I have waited for you, O Lord.
Word Notes:
- propitiatio, propitiationis f. — forgiveness, reconciliation
- apud — with, in the presence of
- lex, legis f. — law, order
- sustineo, sustinere, sustinui, sustentum — to wait for, endure
5
Sustinuit anima mea in verbo eius; speravit anima mea in Domino.
My soul has waited for his word; my soul has hoped in the Lord.
Word Notes:
- anima, animae f. — soul, life
- verbum, verbi n. — word, promise
- spero, sperare, speravi, speratum — to hope
6
A custodia matutina usque ad noctem, speret Israel in Domino.
From the morning watch until the night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
Word Notes:
- custodia, custodiae f. — watch, guard
- matutinus, matutina, matutinum — morning
- nox, noctis f. — night
- spero, sperare, speravi, speratum — to hope
- Israel — Israel (indeclinable)
7
Quia apud Dominum misericordia, et copiosa apud eum redemptio.
For with the Lord is mercy, and with him abundant redemption.
Word Notes:
- misericordia, misericordiae f. — mercy
- copiosus, copiosa, copiosum — abundant
- redemptio, redemptionis f. — redemption
8
Et ipse redimet Israel ex omnibus iniquitatibus eius.
And he himself will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Word Notes:
- redimo, redimere, redemi, redemptum — to redeem
- omnis, omne — all, every
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES (8)
Identify tense, voice, mood, and principal parts:
- clamavi
- exaudi
- observaveris
- sustinebit
- sustinui
- speravit
- speret
- redimet
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES — KEY
- clamavi
- Verb: clamo, clamare, clamavi, clamatum
- Tense: perfect
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: I cried out
- exaudi
- Verb: exaudio, exaudire, exaudivi, exauditum
- Tense: present
- Voice: active
- Mood: imperative
- Meaning: hear
- observaveris
- Verb: observo, observare, observavi, observatum
- Tense: perfect
- Voice: active
- Mood: subjunctive (conditional)
- Meaning: should you mark
- sustinebit
- Verb: sustineo, sustinere, sustinui, sustentum
- Tense: future
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: will endure / stand
- sustinui
- Verb: sustineo, sustinere, sustinui, sustentum
- Tense: perfect
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: I have waited
- speravit
- Verb: spero, sperare, speravi, speratum
- Tense: perfect
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: has hoped
- speret
- Verb: spero, sperare, speravi, speratum
- Tense: present
- Voice: active
- Mood: subjunctive (jussive)
- Meaning: let … hope
- redimet
- Verb: redimo, redimere, redemi, redemptum
- Tense: future
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: will redeem
TRANSLATION EXERCISES (8)
Translate into Latin:
- From the depths I cried to the Lord.
- Hear my voice, O Lord.
- Who could stand before you?
- With you there is forgiveness.
- My soul has waited for the Lord.
- Let Israel hope in the Lord.
- With the Lord is mercy.
- He will redeem Israel from all his sins.
TRANSLATION EXERCISES — KEY
- De profundis clamavi ad Dominum.
- Domine, exaudi vocem meam.
- Quis sustinebit?
- Apud te propitiatio est.
- Anima mea Dominum sustinuit.
- Speret Israel in Domino.
- Apud Dominum misericordia est.
- Israel redimet ex omnibus iniquitatibus suis.
SUMMARY (≈100 words)
Psalm 129 begins at the lowest point — not external threat, but inner reckoning. The psalmist recognises that if wrongdoing were fully counted, endurance would be impossible. Yet the psalm does not dissolve into despair; it pivots on a crucial claim: forgiveness is intrinsic to divine order. Waiting becomes the central discipline — watchful, patient, and sustained by trust in a spoken promise. Hope is extended from the individual to the community, transforming private penitence into shared expectation. Redemption here is moral restoration, not escape, and it is grounded in mercy that outlasts guilt.
REFLECTION QUESTION
Where in your own experience has hope required waiting rather than resolution — and what sustained that waiting?