— Psalm 132 (Vulgate / Hebrew)
Memento, Domine, David
By GRAHAM JOHN
A psalm of covenant memory and kingship, recalling David’s vow, the choice of Zion, and the enduring tension between divine promise and historical reality.
18 verses total
VERSUS 1–18 (LATIN + LITERAL ENGLISH + WORD NOTES)
1
Memento, Domine, David: et omnis mansuetudinis ejus.
Remember, O Lord, David, and all his humility.
Word Notes
- meminī, meminisse — to remember
- Dominus, Dominī (m.) — Lord
- mansuētūdō, mansuētūdinis (f.) — gentleness, humility
2
Sicut juravit Domino, votum vovit Deo Jacob:
How he swore to the Lord, vowed a vow to the God of Jacob.
Word Notes
- iūrō, iūrāre, iūrāvī, iūrātum — to swear
- vōtum, vōtī (n.) — vow
- Deus Jacob — God of Jacob (covenant title)
3
Si introiero in tabernaculum domus meæ, si ascendero in lectum strati mei;
If I enter the tent of my house, if I go up onto my bed;
Word Notes
- introeō, introīre, introīvī — to enter
- tabernāculum, tabernāculī (n.) — tent, dwelling
- lēctus, lēctī (m.) — bed
4
Si dedero somnum oculis meis, et palpebris meis dormitationem;
If I give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids;
Word Notes
- dō, dare, dedī, datum — to give
- somnus, somnī (m.) — sleep
- palpebra, palpebrae (f.) — eyelid
5
Donec inveniam locum Domino, tabernaculum Deo Jacob.
Until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the God of Jacob.
Word Notes
- inveniō, invenīre, invēnī, inventum — to find
- locus, locī (m.) — place
6
Ecce audivimus eam in Ephrata: invenimus eam in campis silvæ.
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of the forest.
Word Notes
- audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītum — to hear
- Ephrata — Bethlehem region
- silva, silvae (f.) — forest
7
Introibimus in tabernaculum ejus: adorabimus in loco ubi steterunt pedes ejus.
Let us enter his dwelling; let us worship at the place where his feet stood.
Word Notes
- adorō, adorāre, adorāvī, adorātum — to worship
- pēs, pedis (m.) — foot
8
Surge, Domine, in requiem tuam: tu et arca sanctificationis tuæ.
Arise, O Lord, into your resting place: you and the ark of your holiness.
Word Notes
- surgō, surgere, surrēxī, surrēctum — to arise
- requiēs, requiētis (f.) — rest
- arca, arcae (f.) — ark
9
Sacerdotes tui induantur justitiam: et sancti tui exsultent.
Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and your faithful rejoice.
Word Notes
- sacerdōs, sacerdōtis (m.) — priest
- induō, induere, induī, indūtum — to clothe
- justitia, justitiae (f.) — righteousness
10
Propter David servum tuum, non avertas faciem christi tui.
For the sake of David your servant, do not turn away the face of your anointed.
Word Notes
- avertō, avertere, avertī, aversum — to turn away
- christus, christī (m.) — anointed one
11
Juravit Dominus David veritatem, et non frustrabitur eam:
The Lord swore truth to David, and will not frustrate it.
Word Notes
- frustrō, frustrāre, frustrāvī, frustrātum — to thwart
- vēritās, vēritātis (f.) — truth
12
De fructu ventris tui ponam super sedem tuam.
From the fruit of your body I will set one upon your throne.
Word Notes
- fructus, fructūs (m.) — fruit, offspring
- sēdēs, sēdis (f.) — throne
13
Si custodierint filii tui testamentum meum…
If your sons keep my covenant…
Word Notes
- custōdiō, custōdīre, custōdīvī — to keep, guard
- testāmentum, testāmentī (n.) — covenant
14
Hic requies mea in sæculum sæculi: hic habitabo, quoniam elegi eam.
This is my resting place forever: here I will dwell, for I have chosen it.
Word Notes
- habitō, habitāre, habitāvī — to dwell
- ēligō, ēligere, ēlēgī, ēlectum — to choose
15
Viduam ejus benedicens benedicam: pauperes ejus saturabo panibus.
Blessing I will bless her widow; her poor I will satisfy with bread.
Word Notes
- vidua, viduae (f.) — widow
- pauper, pauperis (m.) — poor person
- saturō, saturāre, saturāvī — to satisfy
16
Sacerdotes ejus induam salutari: et sancti ejus exsultatione exsultabunt.
Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her faithful will rejoice greatly.
Word Notes
- salūtāre, salūtāris (n.) — salvation
17
Illuc producam cornu David: paravi lucernam christo meo.
There I will raise up a horn for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
Word Notes
- cornū, cornūs (n.) — horn (symbol of power)
- lucerna, lucernae (f.) — lamp
18
Inimicos ejus induam confusione: super ipsum autem efflorebit sanctificatio mea.
His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon him my holiness will flourish.
Word Notes
- confūsiō, confūsiōnis (f.) — confusion, shame
- efflōreō, efflōrēre — to blossom, flourish
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES (5)
Identify tense, voice, mood, and principal parts:
- juravit
- inveniam
- induantur
- habitabo
- efflorebit
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES — KEY
juravit
- Verb: iūrō, iūrāre, iūrāvī, iūrātum
- Tense: perfect
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: he swore
inveniam
- Verb: inveniō, invenīre, invēnī, inventum
- Tense: present
- Voice: active
- Mood: subjunctive
- Meaning: that I may find
induantur
- Verb: induō, induere, induī, indūtum
- Tense: present
- Voice: passive
- Mood: subjunctive
- Meaning: let them be clothed
habitabo
- Verb: habitō, habitāre, habitāvī
- Tense: future
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: I will dwell
efflorebit
- Verb: efflōreō, efflōrēre
- Tense: future
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: it will flourish
TRANSLATION EXERCISES (5)
Translate into Latin:
- Remember David, O Lord.
- I will find a place for the Lord.
- Let your priests be clothed with righteousness.
- This is my resting place forever.
- I will raise a horn for David.
TRANSLATION EXERCISES — KEY
- Memento, Domine, David.
- Inveniam locum Domino.
- Sacerdotes tui induantur justitiam.
- Hic requies mea in sæculum sæculi.
- Producam cornu David.
SUMMARY (≈120 words)
Psalm 132 is a meditation on covenant memory: the human vow of David and the divine promise of God. It binds kingship, worship, and justice into a single vision centred on Zion. Yet beneath its triumphal tone lies tension. The psalm remembers promises made in history that appear fragile in reality. Kings fail, dynasties break, temples fall — yet the psalm insists that divine election is not revoked. Zion is chosen not because of power, but because of commitment to justice, care for the poor, and fidelity to covenant. The psalm thus stands between hope and history, faith and disappointment, refusing to abandon promise even when evidence is thin.
REFLECTION QUESTION
How do you hold together inherited promises and historical disappointment without surrendering either honesty or hope?