Conserva me Domine, quoniam speravi in te
1. Conserva me, Domine, quoniam speravi in te.
Preserve me, O Lord, for I have trusted in thee.
Notes:
- conserva — verb, 2nd person singular imperative, from conservo, conservare, conservavi, conservatum — to preserve, keep safe.
- spero, sperare, speravi, speratum — to hope, trust.
2. Dixi Domino: Deus meus es tu, quoniam bonorum meorum non eges.
I have said to the Lord: Thou art my God, for thou hast no need of my goods.
Notes:
- dixi — perfect active, from dico, dicere, dixi, dictum — to say.
- eges — 2nd person singular present, from egeo, egere, egui — to need, lack.
- bonorum meorum — bonum, boni n. “good, benefit”; meorum = genitive plural of meus — “my”.
3. Sanctis, qui sunt in terra eius, mirificavit omnes voluntates meas in eis.
To the saints who are in his land, he has shown all my wondrous delights in them.
Notes:
- sanctis — dative plural, “to the holy ones, saints”.
- mirificavit — perfect active, from mirifico, mirificare, mirificavi, mirificatum — to make wonderful, to show marvellously.
- voluntates meas — “my desires / intentions”; voluntas, voluntatis f. — will, wish.
4. Multiplicatae sunt infirmitates eorum; postea acceleraverunt.
Their infirmities have been multiplied; afterwards they hastened.
Notes:
- multiplicatae sunt — perfect passive, from multiplico, multiplicare, multiplicavi, multiplicatum — to multiply.
- infirmitates — “weaknesses, afflictions”; infirmitas, infirmitatis f.
- acceleraverunt — perfect active, from accelero, accelerare, acceleravi, acceleratum — to hasten.
Non congregabo conventicula eorum de sanguinibus, nec memor ero nominum eorum per labia mea.
I will not gather their assemblies of blood, nor will I call their names upon my lips.
Notes:
- congregabo — future active, from congrego, congregare, congregavi, congregatum — to gather together.
- conventicula — diminutive of conventus, “gathering, assembly”.
- memor ero — future of “sum” with adjective use of “memor”, “I will remember.”
- labia — plural of labium, labiī n. — lip.
5. Dominus pars hereditatis meae et calicis mei: tu es qui restitues hereditatem meam mihi.
The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: thou it is who wilt restore my inheritance to me.
Notes:
- pars hereditatis meae — “the portion of my inheritance.”
- calicis — genitive of calix, calicis m. — cup, chalice.
- restitues — future active, from restituo, restituere, restitui, restitutum — to restore, give back.
6. Funes ceciderunt mihi in praeclaris: etenim hereditas mea praeclara est mihi.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places: indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me.
Notes:
- funes — plural of funis, funis m. — cord, measuring line.
- ceciderunt — perfect active, from cado, cadere, cecidi, casum — to fall.
- praeclaris — ablative plural, “splendid, excellent.”
7. Benedicam Dominum, qui tribuit mihi intellectum: insuper et usque ad noctem increpuerunt me renes mei.
I will bless the Lord who has given me understanding; moreover, even by night my reins instruct me.
Notes:
- benedicam — future active, from benedico, benedicere, benedixi, benedictum — to bless.
- tribuit — perfect active, from tribuo, tribuere, tribui, tributum — to bestow, grant.
- renes — “kidneys,” metaphorically “inner self, conscience.”
8. Providebam Dominum in conspectu meo semper: quoniam a dextris est mihi, ne commovear.
I set the Lord always before me: for he is at my right hand, that I may not be moved.
Notes:
- providere — to foresee, set before; providebam = imperfect active.
- conspectu — ablative of conspectus, -us m. — sight, presence.
- commovear — present subjunctive passive, from commoveo, commovere, commovi, commotum — to move, disturb.
9. Propter hoc laetatum est cor meum, et exsultavit lingua mea: insuper et caro mea requiescet in spe.
Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh shall rest in hope.
Notes:
- laetatum est — perfect passive, from laeto, laetare, laetavi, laetatum — to rejoice.
- exsultavit — perfect active, from exsulto, exsultare, exsultavi, exsultatum — to exult.
- requiescet — future active, from requiesco, requiescere, requievi, requietum — to rest.
10. Quoniam non derelinques animam meam in inferno, nec dabis sanctum tuum videre corruptionem.
For thou wilt not abandon my soul to hell, nor give thy holy one to see corruption.
Notes:
- derelinques — future active, from derelinquo, derelinquere, dereliqui, derelictum — to leave, forsake.
- inferno — ablative of infernus, -i m. — the underworld, hell.
- videre — present infinitive of video.
11. Notas mihi fecisti vias vitae: adimplebis me laetitia cum vultu tuo; delectationes in dextera tua usque in finem.
Thou hast made known to me the paths of life; thou wilt fill me with joy with thy countenance; delights are in thy right hand for ever.
Notes:
- notas fecisti — “thou hast made known,” perfect phrase from facio + notus.
- vias vitae — “paths of life”; via, viae f. — way; vita, vitae f. — life.
- adimplebis — future active, from adimpleo, adimplere, adimplevi, adimpletum — to fill, satisfy.
- vultus, vultus m. — face, countenance.