Type / Mood: Wisdom Psalm. The psalmist wrestles with envy at the prosperity of the wicked, but finds resolution in trusting God. Tone: reflective, moving from doubt to renewed confidence.
Verse 1
Quam bonus Israhel Deus his, qui recto sunt corde.
How good [is] God to Israel, to those who are upright in heart.
Notes: • rectus, -a, -um = upright • cor, cordis (n.) = heart
Verse 2
Mei autem paene moti sunt pedes, paene effusi sunt gressus mei.
But my feet almost were moved, my steps almost were poured out.
Notes: • effundō, effundere, effūdī, effūsus (3rd) = pour out, spill • pēs, pedis (m.) = foot • gressus, -ūs (m.) = step
Verse 3
Quia zelavi super iniquos, pacem peccatorum videns.
For I envied the wicked, seeing the peace of sinners.
Notes: • zelō, zelāre, zelāvī, zelātus (1st) = envy • inīquus, -a, -um = unjust, wicked • peccātor, peccātōris (m.) = sinner
Verse 4
Quia non est respectus morti eorum, et firmamentum in plaga eorum.
For there is no struggle at their death, and their body is strong.
Notes: • mors, mortis (f.) = death • plaga, plagae (f.) = blow, plague
Verse 5
In labore hominum non sunt, et cum hominibus non flagellabuntur.
They are not in the toil of men, nor are they scourged with others.
Notes: • flagellō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = scourge • labor, labōris (m.) = toil
Verse 6
Ideo tenuit eos superbia; operti sunt iniquitate et impietate sua.
Therefore pride has seized them; they are clothed in iniquity and violence.
Notes: • teneō, tenēre, tenuī, tentus (2nd) = hold • operiō, -īre, -uī, -tus (4th) = cover • superbia, -ae (f.) = pride • impietās, impietātis (f.) = impiety
Verse 7
Prodiit quasi ex adipe iniquitas eorum; transierunt in affectum cordis.
Their iniquity came forth as from fatness; they passed beyond the intent of the heart.
Notes: • prōdeō, -īre, -iī, -itus = go forth • trānseō, -īre, -iī, -itus = cross, pass • adeps, adipis (m.) = fat • affectus, -ūs (m.) = feeling, disposition
Verse 8
Cogitaverunt et locuti sunt nequitiam; iniquitatem in excelso locuti sunt.
They thought and spoke wickedness; they spoke iniquity from on high.
Notes: • cōgitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = think • loquor, loquī, locūtus sum (dep.) = speak • nequitia, -ae (f.) = wickedness
Verse 9
Posuerunt in caelum os suum, et lingua eorum transivit in terra.
They set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue passed through the earth.
Notes: • pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positus (3rd) = place • lingua, -ae (f.) = tongue, speech
Verse 10
Ideo convertetur populus meus hic, et dies pleni invenientur in eis.
Therefore my people will return here, and full days will be found in them.
Notes: • convertor, convertī, conversus sum (dep.) = turn back • inveniō, -īre, -ī, -tus (4th) = find
Verse 11
Et dixerunt: Quomodo scit Deus, et si est scientia in excelso?
And they said: How does God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?
Notes: • sciō, scīre, scīvī, scītus (4th) = know • scientia, -ae (f.) = knowledge
Verse 12
Ecce ipsi peccatores, et abundantes in saeculo obtinuerunt divitias.
Behold, these are sinners, and prospering in the world they obtained riches.
Notes: • abundo, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = abound • obtineō, -ēre, -uī, -tentus (2nd) = obtain • divitiae, -ārum (f. pl.) = riches
Verse 13
Et dixi: Ergo sine causa iustificavi cor meum, et lavi inter innocentes manus meas.
And I said: Surely in vain I justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
Notes: • iustificō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = justify • lavō, -āre, lāvī, lautus (1st) = wash • innocēns, innocentis = innocent
Verse 14
Et fui flagellatus tota die, et castigatio mea in matutinis.
For I was scourged all day, and my correction [came] in the mornings.
Notes: • flagellō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = scourge • castigātiō, -ōnis (f.) = correction
Verse 15
Si dicebam: Narrabo sic: ecce nationem filiorum tuorum reprobavi.
If I said: I will speak thus, behold, I would have rejected the generation of your children.
Notes: • narrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = tell • reprobō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = reject • nātiō, -ōnis (f.) = nation, generation
Verse 16
Existimabam ut cognoscerem hoc; labor est ante me.
I considered to know this; labor was before me.
Notes: • existimō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = consider • cognoscō, -ere, cognōvī, cognitus (3rd) = learn, know
Verse 17
Donec intrem in sanctuarium Dei, et intellegam in novissimis eorum.
Until I enter the sanctuary of God, and I understand their end.
Notes: • intrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = enter • intellegō, -ere, -ēxī, -ēctus (3rd) = understand • novissimus, -a, -um = last, end
Verse 18
Verumtamen propter dolos posuisti eis; deiecisti eos dum allevarentur.
Yet indeed for deceit you placed them; you cast them down when they were lifted up.
Notes: • dēiciō, -ere, -iēcī, -iectus (3rd) = cast down • allevō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = lift up • dolus, -ī (m.) = deceit
Verse 19
Quomodo facti sunt in desolationem, subito defecerunt; perierunt propter iniquitatem suam.
How they were made into desolation! Suddenly they failed; they perished because of their iniquity.
Notes: • dēficiō, -ere, dēfēcī, dēfectus (3rd) = fail • pereō, -īre, -iī, -itus (irr. 4th) = perish • dēsolātiō, -ōnis (f.) = desolation
Verse 20
Velut somnium surgentium, Domine, in civitate tua imaginem ipsorum ad nihilum rediges.
Like a dream of those who rise, Lord, in your city their image you will bring to nothing.
Notes: • surgō, -ere, surrēxī, surrēctus (3rd) = rise • redigō, -ere, redēgī, redāctus (3rd) = drive back, reduce
Verse 21
Quia inflammatum est cor meum, et renes mei commutati sunt.
For my heart was inflamed, and my reins [inmost parts] were changed.
Notes: • inflammō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = inflame • commūtō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = change • rēnēs, -um (m. pl.) = kidneys, reins
Verse 22
Et ego ad nihilum redactus sum, et nescivi; ut iumentum factus sum apud te.
And I was reduced to nothing and did not know; I was like a beast before you.
Notes: • redigō, -ere, redēgī, redāctus (3rd) = drive back, reduce • nescīō, -īre, -īvī, -ītus (4th) = not know • iūmentum, -ī (n.) = beast of burden
Verse 23
Et ego semper tecum, tenuisti manum dexteram meam.
Yet I [was] always with you; you held my right hand.
Notes: • teneō, -ēre, tenuī, tentus (2nd) = hold • dextera, -ae (f.) = right hand
Verse 24
In consilio tuo deduxisti me, et postea suscepisti me in gloria.
By your counsel you led me, and afterward you received me in glory.
Notes: • dēdūcō, -ere, -ūxī, -uctus (3rd) = lead down • suscipiō, -ere, -cēpī, -ceptus (3rd) = receive
Verse 25
Quid enim mihi est in caelo? Et tecum nihil volui super terram.
For what [is] there for me in heaven? And with you I desired nothing on earth.
Notes: • volō, velle, voluī (irr.) = wish, want • caelum, -ī (n.) = heaven
Verse 26
Defecit caro mea et cor meum; Deus cordis mei, et pars mea Deus in aeternum.
My flesh and my heart failed; God of my heart, and my portion is God forever.
Notes: • dēficiō, -ere, -fēcī, -fectus (3rd) = fail • caro, carnis (f.) = flesh • pars, partis (f.) = part, portion
Verse 27
Quia ecce, qui elongant se a te peribunt; perdidisti omnes qui fornicantur abs te.
For behold, those who go far from you will perish; you destroyed all who commit fornication against you.
Notes: • ēlongō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = remove, distance • pereō, -īre, -iī, -itus (4th) = perish • perdō, -ere, -idī, -itus (3rd) = destroy • fornicor, -ārī, -ātus sum (dep.) = commit fornication
Verse 28
Mihi autem adhaerere Deo bonum est; ponere in Domino Deo spem meam: ut annuntiem omnes praedicationes tuas in portis filiae Sion.
But for me to cling to God is good; to place my hope in the Lord God: that I may declare all your preachings at the gates of the daughter of Zion.
Notes: • adhaereō, -ēre, -sī, -sus (2nd) = cling • pōnō, -ere, posuī, positus (3rd) = place • annuntiō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = announce • praedicātiō, -ōnis (f.) = preaching • fīlia, -ae (f.) = daughter • Sion (indecl.) = Zion