Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me
(A prayer of repentance and physical affliction)
Summary:
A psalm of David expressing guilt, physical suffering, and repentance. The psalmist feels God’s wrath as a consuming fire, laments his wounds and isolation, yet clings to faith and confession before the Lord.
Verse 1
Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me, neque in ira tua corripias me.
Lord, do not reprove me in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.
Word notes:
- arguas — arguo, arguere, argui, argutum (3rd conj.) = to reprove, accuse. Present subjunctive active.
- corripias — corripio, corripere, corripui, correptum (3rd conj.) = to rebuke, correct. Present subjunctive active.
- furor, furoris (m.) = rage, fury.
- ira, irae (f.) = anger.
Verse 2
Quoniam sagittae tuae infixae sunt mihi, et confirmasti super me manum tuam.
For your arrows are fixed in me, and you have laid your hand heavily upon me.
Word notes:
- infixae sunt — infigo, infigere, infixi, infixum (3rd) = to fasten, drive in. Perfect passive indicative.
- confirmasti — confirmo, confirmare, confirmavi, confirmatum (1st) = to strengthen, press upon. Perfect indicative active.
- manus, manus (f.) = hand.
- sagitta, sagittae (f.) = arrow.
Verse 3
Non est sanitas in carne mea a facie irae tuae; non est pax ossibus meis a facie peccatorum meorum.
There is no health in my flesh because of your anger; no peace in my bones because of my sins.
Word notes:
- sanitas, sanitatis (f.) = health, soundness.
- caro, carnis (f.) = flesh.
- os, ossis (n.) = bone.
- peccatum, peccati (n.) = sin.
Verse 4
Quoniam iniquitates meae supergressae sunt caput meum, et sicut onus grave gravatae sunt super me.
For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they weigh upon me.
Word notes:
- supergressae sunt — supergredior, supergredi, supergressus sum (3rd deponent) = to go over, surpass. Perfect deponent.
- onus, oneris (n.) = load, burden.
- gravis, grave = heavy, serious.
Verse 5
Putruerunt et corruptae sunt cicatrices meae a facie insipientiae meae.
My wounds are foul and corrupt because of my foolishness.
Word notes:
- putruerunt — putresco, putrescere, putrui (3rd) = to rot, decay. Perfect indicative active.
- corruptae sunt — corrumpo, corrumpere, corrupi, corruptum (3rd) = to spoil, corrupt. Perfect passive indicative.
- cicatrix, cicatricis (f.) = wound, scar.
- insipientia, insipientiae (f.) = folly, foolishness.
Verse 6
Miser factus sum, et curvatus sum usque in finem; tota die contristatus ingrediebar.
I am made wretched and bowed down utterly; all day I went about in sorrow.
Word notes:
- factus sum — fio, fieri, factus sum (irreg.) = to become, be made. Perfect indicative deponent form.
- curvatus sum — curvo, curvare, curvavi, curvatum (1st) = to bend, bow. Perfect passive indicative.
- contristo, contristare (1st) = to sadden, grieve.
- ingrediebar — ingredior, ingredi, ingressus sum (3rd dep.) = to go in, walk. Imperfect deponent.
Verse 7
Quoniam lumbi mei impleti sunt illusionibus, et non est sanitas in carne mea.
For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
Word notes:
- lumbi, lumborum (m. pl.) = loins.
- impleti sunt — impleo, implere, implevi, impletum (2nd) = to fill. Perfect passive.
- illusio, illusionis (f.) = delusion, burning (figurative here).
Verse 8
Afflictus sum et humiliatus sum nimis; rugiebam a gemitu cordis mei.
I am afflicted and greatly humbled; I roared because of the groaning of my heart.
Word notes:
- affligo, affligere, afflixi, afflictum (3rd) = to strike down, afflict.
- humilio, humiliare, humiliavi, humiliatum (1st) = to humble.
- rugiebam — rugio, rugire, rugivi (4th) = to roar, groan. Imperfect.
- gemitus, gemitus (m.) = groaning, sighing.
- cor, cordis (n.) = heart.
Verse 9
Domine, ante te omne desiderium meum, et gemitus meus a te non est absconditus.
Lord, all my desire is before you, and my sighing is not hidden from you.
Word notes:
- desiderium, desiderii (n.) = longing, desire.
- absconditus — abscondo, abscondere, abscondi, absconditum (3rd) = to hide. Perfect passive participle.
Verse 10
Cor meum conturbatum est, dereliquit me virtus mea; et lumen oculorum meorum, et ipsum non est mecum.
My heart is troubled, my strength has failed me; and the light of my eyes—it too is gone from me.
Word notes:
- conturbo, conturbare (1st) = to trouble, disturb.
- dereliquit — derelinquo, derelinquere, dereliqui, derelictum (3rd) = to forsake, abandon.
- virtus, virtutis (f.) = strength, courage.
- lumen, luminis (n.) = light.
- oculus, oculi (m.) = eye.
Verse 11
Amici mei et proximi mei adversum me appropinquaverunt, et steterunt; et qui juxta me erant, de longe steterunt.
My friends and neighbours draw near against me and stand apart; those who were close now stand far off.
Word notes:
- amicus, amici (m.) = friend.
- proximi, proximorum (m. pl.) = neighbours, those near.
- appropinquaverunt — appropinquo, appropinquare, appropinquavi, appropinquatum (1st) = to draw near. Perfect active.
- steterunt — sto, stare, steti, statum (1st) = to stand. Perfect active.
Verse 12
Et vim faciebant qui quaerebant animam meam; et qui inquirebant mala mihi, locuti sunt vanitates, et dolos tota die meditabantur.
Those who sought my life used violence; those who wished me harm spoke deceit and meditated trickery all day.
Word notes:
- quaerebant — quaero, quaerere, quaesivi, quaesitum (3rd) = to seek. Imperfect.
- inquirebant — inquiro, inquirere, inquisivi, inquisitum (3rd) = to investigate, seek out. Imperfect.
- vanitas, vanitatis (f.) = emptiness, vanity, falsehood.
- dolus, doli (m.) = deceit, trick.
- meditor, meditari, meditatus sum (1st dep.) = to think on, plot.
Verse 13
Ego autem tamquam surdus non audiebam, et sicut mutus non aperiens os suum.
But I, like a deaf man, did not hear; and as one dumb, I did not open my mouth.
Word notes:
- surdus, -a, -um = deaf.
- mutus, -a, -um = mute.
- audiebam — audio, audire, audivi, auditum (4th) = to hear. Imperfect.
- aperiens — aperio, aperire, aperui, apertum (4th) = to open. Present participle.
Verse 14
Et factus sum sicut homo non audiens, et non habens in ore suo redargutiones.
I became as a man who hears nothing, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.
Word notes:
- factus sum — fio, fieri, factus sum (irreg.) = to become. Perfect.
- redargutio, redargutionis (f.) = reproof, reply, answer.
Verse 15
Quoniam in te, Domine, speravi; tu exaudies me, Domine Deus meus.
For in you, Lord, I have hoped; you will hear me, O Lord my God.
Word notes:
- spero, sperare, speravi, speratum (1st) = to hope. Perfect.
- exaudies — exaudi, exaudire, exaudivi, exauditum (4th) = to hear favourably. Future active.
Verse 16
Quia dixi: Nequando supergaudeant mihi inimici mei, et dum commoventur pedes mei, super me magna locuti sunt.
For I said, Let not my enemies rejoice over me; and when my feet slip, they magnify themselves against me.
Word notes:
- supergaudeant — supergaudeo, supergaudere (2nd) = to rejoice over. Present subjunctive.
- commoventur — commoveo, commovere, commovi, commotum (2nd) = to be moved, shaken. Present passive.
- pes, pedis (m.) = foot.
- inimicus, inimici (m.) = enemy.
Verse 17
Quoniam ego in flagella paratus sum, et dolor meus in conspectu meo semper.
For I am ready for scourging, and my sorrow is ever before me.
Word notes:
- paratus sum — paro, parare, paravi, paratum (1st) = to prepare. Perfect passive = “I am prepared.”
- flagellum, flagelli (n.) = whip, scourge.
- dolor, doloris (m.) = pain, grief.
Verse 18
Quoniam iniquitatem meam annuntiabo, et cogitabo pro peccato meo.
For I will declare my iniquity, and I will be mindful of my sin.
Word notes:
- annuntiabo — annuntio, annuntiare, annuntiavi, annuntiatum (1st) = to announce. Future active.
- cogitabo — cogito, cogitare, cogitavi, cogitatum (1st) = to think, reflect. Future active.
Verse 19
Inimici autem mei vivunt, et confirmati sunt super me; et multiplicati sunt qui oderunt me inique.
But my enemies live and are strengthened above me; and those who hate me unjustly have increased.
Word notes:
- vivo, vivere, vixi, victum (3rd) = to live.
- confirmati sunt — confirmo (1st) = to strengthen. Perfect passive.
- multiplicati sunt — multiplico, multiplicare, multiplicavi, multiplicatum (1st) = to increase. Perfect passive.
- odio, odisse (defective verb) = to hate. Perfect forms with present sense.
Verse 20
Qui retribuunt mala pro bonis detrahebant mihi, quoniam sequebar bonitatem.
They repay evil for good, slandering me because I follow goodness.
Word notes:
- retribuo, retribuere, retribui, retributum (3rd) = to repay.
- detrahebant — detraho, detrahere, detraxi, detractum (3rd) = to slander, speak ill. Imperfect active.
- sequebar — sequor, sequi, secutus sum (3rd dep.) = to follow. Imperfect deponent.
- bonitas, bonitatis (f.) = goodness, kindness.
Verse 21
Ne derelinquas me, Domine, Deus meus; ne discesseris a me.
Do not forsake me, Lord my God; do not depart from me.
Word notes:
- derelinquas — derelinquo, derelinquere, dereliqui, derelictum (3rd) = to abandon. Present subjunctive.
- discesseris — discedo, discedere, discessi, discessum (3rd) = to go away, depart. Perfect subjunctive (used in prayerful plea).
Verse 22
Intende in adjutorium meum, Domine, salutis meae.
Attend to my help, O Lord of my salvation.
Word notes:
- intende — intendo, intendere, intendi, intentum (3rd) = to stretch toward, attend. Imperative.
- adjutorium, adjutorii (n.) = help, assistance.
- salus, salutis (f.) = salvation, health, safety.
Study Exercise
I. Translate into Latin
- The Lord has heard my sighing.
- My heart is troubled within me.
- I have hoped in you, O Lord.
- Do not forsake me in my sorrow.
- My enemies rejoice over my weakness.
(Answer Key
- Dominus gemitum meum exaudivit.
- Cor meum conturbatum est intra me.
- In te speravi, Domine.
- Ne derelinquas me in dolore meo.
- Inimici mei supergaudent mihi propter infirmitatem meam.
(Notes: uses psalm vocabulary: gemitus/exaudire, cor/conturbare, sperare, derelinquere, inimici/supergaudere/infirmitas.)Try to use vocabulary from the psalm.)
II. Translate into English
- Iniquitatem meam annuntiabo Domino.
- In conspectu tuo omnis dolor meus.
- Domine, ne derelinquas me.
- In te speravi, Deus salutis meae.
- Inimici mei multiplicati sunt super me.
III. Word Forms
Identify tense and mood of the verbs:
| Latin verb | Meaning | Tense | Mood | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| supergaudeant | may rejoice over | present | subjunctive | 2nd |
| commoventur | are moved | present | indicative (passive) | 2nd |
| cogitabo | I will think | future | indicative | 1st |
| detrahebant | they were slandering | imperfect | indicative | 3rd |
| intende | attend! | present | imperative | 3rd |