Beatus qui intelligit super egenum et pauperem
(Blessed is he who considers the poor)
Summary
A psalm of David expressing compassion for the poor, personal suffering, betrayal by friends, and trust in God’s deliverance.
It moves from mercy to pain to restoration, reflecting how awareness of our own weakness awakens the healing force within.
It also foreshadows the Passion of Christ through the imagery of treachery and steadfast faith.
Verse 1
Beatus qui intelligit super egenum et pauperem; in die mala liberabit eum Dominus.
Blessed is he who understands concerning the poor and needy; the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.
Word notes
- beatus, -a, -um = blessed, happy
- intelligit — intellego, intellegere, intellexi, intellectum (3rd) = to understand; present active
- egenus, -a, -um = needy, destitute
- pauper, pauperis = poor
- liberabit — libero, liberare, liberavi, liberatum (1st) = to free, deliver; future active
Verse 2
Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra.
The Lord will preserve him, give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth.
Word notes
- conservo, conservare, conservavi, conservatum (1st) = to preserve, keep; subjunctive (optative tone)
- vivifico, vivificare, vivificavi, vivificatum (1st) = to give life
- faciat — facio, facere, feci, factum (3rd) = to make, cause; subjunctive
Verse 3
Et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum ejus.
And let him not be delivered into the soul (power) of his enemies.
Word notes
- tradat — trado, tradere, tradidi, traditum (3rd) = to hand over, deliver; subjunctive
- anima, -ae (f.) = soul, life, power
- inimicus, -i (m.) = enemy
Verse 4
Dominus opem ferat ei super lectum doloris ejus; universum stratum ejus versasti in infirmitate ejus.
The Lord will help him upon his bed of pain; you have turned all his couch in his sickness.
Word notes
- opem ferat — fero, ferre, tuli, latum (irreg.) = to bring help; subjunctive phrase
- lectus, -i (m.) = bed
- dolor, -oris (m.) = pain, sorrow
- stratum, -i (n.) = couch, bed
- versasti — verso, versare, versavi, versatum (1st) = to turn, change; perfect
Verse 5
Ego dixi: Domine, miserere mei; sana animam meam, quia peccavi tibi.
I said: Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
Word notes
- miserere — misereor, misereri, miseritus sum (2nd dep.) = have mercy; imperative
- sano, sanare, sanavi, sanatum (1st) = to heal
- pecco, peccare, peccavi, peccatum (1st) = to sin; perfect active
Verse 6
Inimici mei dixerunt mala mihi: Quando morietur, et peribit nomen ejus?
My enemies have spoken evil of me: When will he die, and his name perish?
Word notes
- dixerunt — dico, dicere, dixi, dictum (3rd) = to say; perfect
- morietur — morior, mori, mortuus sum (3rd dep.) = to die; future
- peribit — pereo, perire, perii, peritum (irreg.) = to perish; future
- nomen, nominis (n.) = name, reputation
Verse 7
Et si ingrediebatur ut videret, vana loquebatur; cor ejus congregavit iniquitatem sibi.
And if one came to see me, he spoke vanity; his heart gathered iniquity to itself.
Word notes
- ingrediebatur — ingredior, ingredi, ingressus sum (3rd dep.) = to enter; imperfect
- loquebatur — loquor, loqui, locutus sum (3rd dep.) = to speak; imperfect
- congregavit — congrego, congregare, congregavi, congregatum (1st) = to gather; perfect
Verse 8
Egrediebatur foras, et loquebatur in idipsum.
He went out and spoke the same things abroad.
Word notes
- egrediebatur — egredior, egredi, egressus sum (3rd dep.) = to go out; imperfect
- idipsum = the same thing, same matter
Verse 9
Adversum me susurrabant omnes inimici mei; contra me cogitabant mala mihi.
All my enemies whispered together against me; they planned evil against me.
Word notes
- susurro, susurrare, susurravi, susurratum (1st) = to whisper
- cogito, cogitare, cogitavi, cogitatum (1st) = to think, plan
- adversum = against
Verse 10
Verbum iniquum constituerunt adversum me: Qui dormit non adjiciet ut resurgat.
They set an evil word against me: He who lies down shall not rise again.
Word notes
- constituerunt — constituo, constituere, constitui, constitutum (3rd) = to set, establish; perfect
- adjiciet — adjicio, adjicere, adjeci, adjectum (3rd) = to add, continue; future
- resurgat — resurgo, resurgere, resurrexi, resurrectum (3rd) = to rise again; subjunctive
Verse 11
Etenim homo pacis meae, in quo speravi, qui edebat panes meos, magnificavit super me supplantationem.
Even the man of my peace, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
Word notes
- homo pacis meae = “the man of my peace” = friend
- speravi — spero, sperare, speravi, speratum (1st) = to hope, trust; perfect
- edebat — edo, edere, edi, esum (irreg.) = to eat; imperfect
- magnificavit — magnifico, magnificare (1st) = to exalt; perfect
- supplantatio, -onis (f.) = tripping, betrayal
Verse 12
Tu autem, Domine, miserere mei, et resuscita me, et retribuam eis.
But you, O Lord, have mercy on me, and raise me up, that I may repay them.
Word notes
- resuscita — resuscito, resuscitare, resuscitavi, resuscitatum (1st) = to raise again; imperative
- retribuo, retribuere, retribui, retributum (3rd) = to repay
Verse 13
In hoc cognovi quoniam voluisti me, quia non gaudebit inimicus meus super me.
In this I have known that you delight in me, because my enemy does not rejoice over me.
Word notes
- cognovi — cognosco, cognoscere, cognovi, cognitum (3rd) = to know; perfect
- voluisti — volo, velle, volui (irreg.) = to will, desire; perfect
- gaudebit — gaudeo, gaudere, gavisus sum (2nd dep.) = to rejoice; future
Verse 14
Ego autem in innocentia mea suscepi me, et confirmasti me in conspectu tuo in aeternum.
But I, in my integrity, you have upheld me and set me before your face forever.
Word notes
- innocentia, -ae (f.) = innocence, integrity
- suscepi — suscipio, suscipere, suscepi, susceptum (3rd) = to uphold, support; perfect
- confirmasti — confirmo, confirmare, confirmavi, confirmatum (1st) = to strengthen; perfect
- conspectus, -us (m.) = sight, presence
- in aeternum = forever
Verse 15
Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, a saeculo et usque in saeculum. Fiat, fiat.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen, amen.
Word notes
- benedictus, -a, -um = blessed
- a saeculo et usque in saeculum = from age to age
- fiat — fio, fieri, factus sum (irreg.) = let it be done; present subjunctive (jussive)
Study Exercise
I. Translate into Latin
- Blessed is he who understands the poor.
- The Lord will deliver him in the evil day.
- Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
- My enemies have spoken evil of me.
- The man of my peace has betrayed me.
II. Translate into English
- Beatus qui intelligit super egenum et pauperem.
- Domine, miserere mei; sana animam meam.
- Etenim homo pacis meae magnificavit super me supplantationem.
- Dominus opem ferat ei super lectum doloris ejus.
- Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, a saeculo et usque in saeculum.
III. Word Forms
| Latin verb | Meaning | Tense | Mood | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| liberabit | will deliver | future | indicative | 1st |
| versasti | you have turned | perfect | indicative | 1st |
| morietur | will die | future | indicative | 3rd (dep.) |
| resuscita | raise up! | imperative | — | 1st |
| confirmasti | you have established | perfect | indicative | 1st |
Answer Key
I. Latin Translations
- Beatus qui intelligit super egenum et pauperem.
- In die mala liberabit eum Dominus.
- Sana animam meam, quia peccavi tibi.
- Inimici mei dixerunt mala mihi.
- Homo pacis meae supplantavit me.
II. English Translations
- Blessed is he who understands the poor and needy.
- The Lord will deliver him in the day of trouble.
- Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
- My enemies have spoken evil of me.
- The man of my peace has betrayed me.