Summary
A psalm of earnest supplication.
The psalmist cries to God for mercy and protection, fearing to be dragged down with the wicked.
He asks that justice fall upon evildoers but rejoices in the Lord’s help, ending with a benediction:
“Salvum fac populum tuum, et benedic hereditati tuae.”
Verses, Translation, and Word Notes
1. Ad te, Domine, clamabo: Deus meus, ne sileas a me.
To you, O Lord, I cry; my God, do not be silent toward me.
- clamo, -are, -avi, -atum — to cry out, call upon
- Deus, -i (m) — God
- sileo, -ere, silui — to be silent
2. Nequando taceas a me, et assimilabor descendentibus in lacum.
Lest you be silent to me, and I become like those who go down into the pit.
- taceas — taceo, -ere, tacui, tacitum — to be silent
- assimilabor — assimilor, -ari, -atus sum — to become like (+ dat.)
- descendentibus — descendo, -ere, descendi, descensum — to go down
- lacus, -us (m) — pit, hollow
3. Exaudi, Domine, vocem deprecationis meae, dum oro ad te,
Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication when I pray to you,
- exaudi — exaudio, -ire, -ivi, -itum — to hear favourably
- deprecatio, -onis (f) — entreaty, prayer
- oro, -are, -avi, -atum — to pray, beg
4. Dum extollo manus meas ad templum sanctum tuum.
When I lift up my hands toward your holy temple.
- extollo, -ere — to lift up, raise
- manus, -us (f) — hand
- templum, -i (n) — temple
- sanctus, -a, -um — holy
5. Ne simul trahas me cum peccatoribus, et cum operantibus iniquitatem ne perdas me:
Do not drag me away with sinners, nor destroy me with those who do evil,
- trahas — traho, -ere, traxi, tractum — to draw, drag
- peccator, -oris (m) — sinner
- operantibus — operor, -ari, -atus sum — to work, perform
- iniquitas, -atis (f) — injustice, wickedness
- perdas — perdo, -ere, perdidi, perditum — to destroy
6. Qui loquuntur pacem cum proximo suo, mala autem in cordibus eorum.
Who speak peace with their neighbour, but evil is in their hearts.
- loquor, loqui, locutus sum — to speak
- proximus, -i (m) — neighbour
- malum, -i (n) — evil, harm
- cor, cordis (n) — heart
7. Da illis secundum opera eorum, et secundum nequitiam adinventionum ipsorum:
Give them according to their works, and according to the wickedness of their devices.
- do, dare, dedi, datum — to give
- opus, operis (n) — work, deed
- nequitia, -ae (f) — wickedness
- adinventio, -onis (f) — device, contrivance
8. Secundum opera manuum eorum tribue illis, redde retributionem eorum ipsis.
According to the work of their hands repay them; render their recompense to them.
- manus, -us (f) — hand
- tribuo, -ere, tribui, tributum — to assign, allot
- reddo, -ere, reddidi, redditum — to give back, repay
- retributio, -onis (f) — recompense, repayment
9. Quoniam non intellexerunt opera Domini, et in opera manuum eius non intellexerunt:
For they have not understood the works of the Lord, nor the work of His hands.
- intellego, -ere, intellexi, intellectum — to understand
- opus, operis (n) — work, deed
10. Destruet illos, et non aedificabit eos.
He will destroy them and not build them up.
- destruo, -ere, destruxi, destructum — to destroy
- aedifico, -are, -avi, -atum — to build
11. Benedictus Dominus, quoniam exaudivit vocem deprecationis meae.
Blessed be the Lord, for He has heard the voice of my supplication.
- benedictus, -a, -um — blessed
- exaudivit — exaudio, -ire, -ivi, -itum — has heard favourably
- vox, vocis (f) — voice
12. Dominus adiutor meus et protector meus: in ipso speravit cor meum, et adiutus sum.
The Lord is my helper and my protector; my heart trusted in Him and I was helped.
- adiutor, -oris (m) — helper
- protector, -oris (m) — defender
- speravit — spero, -are, -avi, -atum — to hope
- adiutus sum — adjuvo, -are, -avi, -atum — to help
13. Et exultavit cor meum: et ex voluntate mea confitebor ei.
And my heart exulted, and with my song I will praise Him.
- exulto, -are, -avi, -atum — to rejoice, exult
- confiteor, -eri, confessus sum — to praise, give thanks
14. Dominus fortitudo plebis suae, et protector salvationum Christi sui est.
The Lord is the strength of His people, and the protector of the salvation of His anointed.
- fortitudo, -inis (f) — strength
- plebs, plebis (f) — people
- salvatio, -onis (f) — salvation
- Christus, -i (m) — the anointed one
15. Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae: et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.
Save your people, O Lord, and bless your inheritance; shepherd them and lift them up forever.
- salvum fac — salvo, -are, -avi, -atum — make safe, save
- benedico, -ere, benedixi, benedictum — to bless
- hereditas, -atis (f) — inheritance
- rego, -ere, rexi, rectum — to rule, guide
- extollo, -ere — to raise, lift up
- aeternum, -i (n) — eternity, forever
Study Exercise
Translate into Latin:
- Hear, O Lord, my voice when I pray to you.
- Do not destroy me with the wicked.
- The Lord is my helper and protector.
- Blessed be the Lord, for He has heard my prayer.
- Save your people, O Lord, and bless your inheritance.
Answers:
- Exaudi, Domine, vocem meam, dum oro ad te.
- Ne perdas me cum peccatoribus.
- Dominus adiutor meus et protector meus est.
- Benedictus Dominus, quoniam exaudivit deprecationem meam.
- Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.