Summary
A psalm of thanksgiving and instruction.
David blesses the Lord for deliverance, inviting others to taste and see His goodness.
He teaches that God’s eye is upon the righteous and His face against evildoers.
The psalm closes with the assurance that the Lord redeems the souls of His servants; none who trust in Him shall be condemned.
Verses, Translation, and Word Notes
1. Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore: semper laus eius in ore meo.
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise (is) always in my mouth.
- benedicam — benedico, -ere, benedixi, benedictum — I will bless (fut. ind. act.)
- tempus, temporis (n) — time
- laus, laudis (f) — praise
- os, oris (n) — mouth
2. In Domino laudabitur anima mea: audiant mansueti, et laetentur.
In the Lord my soul shall be praised; let the meek hear and rejoice.
- laudabitur — laudo, -are, -avi, -atum — shall be praised (fut. ind. pass.)
- anima, -ae (f) — soul
- mansuetus, -a, -um — meek, gentle
- audiant — audio, -ire, -ivi, -itum — may hear (pres. subj. act.)
- laetentur — laetor, -ari, -atus sum — may rejoice (pres. subj. deponent)
3. Magnificate Dominum mecum: et exaltemus nomen eius in idipsum.
Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
- magnificate — magnifico, -are, -avi, -atum — magnify (2 pl pres. imper.)
- exaltemus — exalto, -are, -avi, -atum — let us exalt (pres. subj. act.)
- nomen, nominis (n) — name
- idipsum — the same, together
4. Exquisivi Dominum, et exaudivit me: et ex omnibus tribulationibus meis eripuit me.
I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and from all my tribulations He delivered me.
- exquisivi — exquiro, -ere, exquisivi, exquisitum — I sought (perf. ind. act.)
- exaudivit — exaudio, -ire, -ivi, -itum — He heard favourably (perf. ind. act.)
- eripuit — eripio, -ere, eripui, ereptum — He snatched away, delivered (perf. ind. act.)
- tribulatio, -onis (f) — trouble, distress
5. Accedite ad eum, et illuminamini: et facies vestrae non confundentur.
Draw near to Him and be enlightened; and your faces shall not be confounded.
- accedite — accedo, -ere, accessi, accessum — draw near (2 pl pres. imper.)
- illuminamini — illumino, -are, -avi, -atum — be enlightened (2 pl pres. imper. pass.)
- facies, -ei (f) — face
- confundentur — confundo, -ere, confudi, confusum — shall be confounded (fut. ind. pass.)
6. Iste pauper clamavit, et Dominus exaudivit eum: et de omnibus tribulationibus eius salvavit eum.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and from all his tribulations He saved him.
- pauper, -eris (m/f) — poor person
- clamavit — clamo, -are, -avi, -atum — he cried (perf. ind. act.)
- salvavit — salvo, -are, -avi, -atum — He saved (perf. ind. act.)
7. Immittet angelus Domini in circuitu timentium eum, et eripiet eos.
The angel of the Lord will encamp round about those who fear Him, and will deliver them.
- immittet — immitto, -ere, immisi, immissum — will send, cause to go (fut. ind. act.)
- angelus, -i (m) — angel, messenger
- circuitus, -us (m) — circuit, round
- timentium — timeo, -ere, timui — fearing (gen. pl. pres. part.)
- eripiet — eripio, -ere, eripui, ereptum — will deliver (fut. ind. act.)
8. Gustate, et videte quoniam suavis est Dominus: beatus vir, qui sperat in eo.
Taste and see that the Lord is sweet; blessed the man who hopes in Him.
- gustate — gusto, -are, -avi, -atum — taste (2 pl pres. imper.)
- videte — video, -ere, vidi, visum — see (2 pl pres. imper.)
- suavis, -e — sweet, pleasant
- sperat — spero, -are, -avi, -atum — hopes (pres. ind. act.)
9. Timete Dominum, omnes sancti eius: quoniam non est inopia timentibus eum.
Fear the Lord, all His holy ones; for there is no want to those who fear Him.
- timete — timeo, -ere, timui — fear (2 pl pres. imper.)
- inopia, -ae (f) — want, lack
10. Divites eguerunt et esurierunt: inquirentes autem Dominum non minuentur omni bono.
The rich have wanted and hungered; but those who seek the Lord shall not be diminished in any good.
- dives, divitis (m/f) — rich person
- eguerunt — eg(e)o, egere, egui — have lacked (perf. ind. act.)
- esurierunt — esurio, -ire, -ivi — have hungered (perf. ind. act.)
- inquirentes — inquiro, -ere, inquisivi, inquisitum — those seeking (pres. part.)
- minuentur — minuo, -ere, minui, minutum — shall be diminished (fut. ind. pass.)
11. Venite, filii, audite me: timorem Domini docebo vos.
Come, children, hear me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
- venite — venio, -ire, veni, ventum — come (2 pl pres. imper.)
- audite — audio, -ire, -ivi, -itum — hear (2 pl pres. imper.)
- docebo — doceo, -ere, docui, doctum — I will teach (fut. ind. act.)
- timor, -oris (m) — fear
12. Quis est homo qui vult vitam: diligit dies videre bonos?
Who is the man that wills life, who loves to see good days?
- vult — volo, velle, volui — wishes, wills (pres. ind. act.)
- diligit — diligo, -ere, dilexi, dilectum — loves (pres. ind. act.)
13. Prohibe linguam tuam a malo, et labia tua ne loquantur dolum.
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
- prohibe — prohibeo, -ere, -ui, -itum — restrain, forbid (2 sg pres. imper.)
- lingua, -ae (f) — tongue
- loquantur — loquor, loqui, locutus sum — may speak (pres. subj. deponent)
- dolus, -i (m) — deceit
14. Declina a malo, et fac bonum: inquire pacem, et persequere eam.
Turn away from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
- declina — declino, -are, -avi, -atum — turn aside (imper.)
- fac — facio, -ere, feci, factum — do (imper.)
- inquire — inquiro, -ere, inquisivi, inquisitum — seek (imper.)
- persequere — persequor, -i, -secutus sum — pursue (imper. deponent)
- pax, pacis (f) — peace
15. Oculi Domini super iustos: et aures eius in preces eorum.
The eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and His ears (are open) to their prayers.
- oculi, -orum (m pl) — eyes
- prex, precis (f) — prayer
- super (+ acc.) — upon
16. Vultus autem Domini super facientes mala: ut perdat de terra memoriam eorum.
But the face of the Lord is against those doing evil, to destroy from the earth their remembrance.
- vultus, -us (m) — face
- facientes — facio, -ere, feci, factum — doing (pres. part.)
- perdat — perdo, -ere, perdidi, perditum — may destroy (pres. subj. act.)
- memoria, -ae (f) — remembrance
17. Clamaverunt iusti, et Dominus exaudivit eos: et ex omnibus tribulationibus eorum liberavit eos.
The just cried, and the Lord heard them, and from all their tribulations He freed them.
- clamaverunt — clamo, -are, -avi, -atum — they cried (perf. ind. act.)
- liberavit — libero, -are, -avi, -atum — He freed (perf. ind. act.)
18. Iuxta est Dominus iis qui tribulato sunt corde: et humiles spiritu salvabit.
Near is the Lord to those who are troubled in heart, and the humble in spirit He will save.
- iuxta est — sum, esse, fui — is near (pres. ind.)
- tribulato sunt corde — tribulo, -are — afflicted (abl. of description)
- humilis, -e — humble, lowly
- salvabit — salvo, -are, -avi, -atum — will save (fut. ind. act.)
19. Multae tribulationes iustorum: et de omnibus his liberabit eos Dominus.
Many (are) the afflictions of the just; and from them all the Lord will free them.
- multae — many (nom. pl. f)
- liberabit — libero, -are, -avi, -atum — will free (fut. ind. act.)
20. Custodit Dominus omnia ossa eorum: unum ex his non conteretur.
The Lord keeps all their bones; not one of them shall be broken.
- custodit — custodio, -ire, -ivi, -itum — keeps, guards (pres. ind. act.)
- os, ossis (n) — bone
- conteretur — contero, -ere, contrivi, contritum — shall be broken (fut. ind. pass.)
21. Mors peccatorum pessima: et qui oderunt iustum delinquent.
The death of sinners (is) most evil; and those who hate the just shall offend.
- mors, mortis (f) — death
- pessimus, -a, -um — worst, most evil
- oderunt — odi, odisse — they hate (perf. with present meaning)
- delinquent — delinquo, -ere, deliqui, delictum — will offend, do wrong (fut. ind. act.)
22. Redimet Dominus animas servorum suorum: et non delinquent omnes qui sperant in eo.
The Lord will redeem the souls of His servants, and none who hope in Him shall go astray.
- redimet — redimo, -ere, redemi, redemptum — will redeem (fut. ind. act.)
- anima, -ae (f) — soul
- servus, -i (m) — servant
- sperant — spero, -are, -avi, -atum — they hope (pres. ind. act.)
- delinquent — delinquo, -ere — shall go astray (fut. ind. act.)
Study Exercise
Translate into Latin:
- I will bless the Lord at all times.
- Taste and see that the Lord is sweet.
- Keep your tongue from evil.
- The Lord is near to those who are troubled in heart.
- The Lord will redeem the souls of His servants.
Answers:
- Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore.
- Gustate et videte quoniam suavis est Dominus.
- Prohibe linguam tuam a malo.
- Iuxta est Dominus iis qui tribulato sunt corde.
- Redimet Dominus animas servorum suorum.