This psalm marks a return to confidence, gratitude, and moral resolve — not naïve optimism, but faith tempered by experience.
— Psalm 138 (Vulgate / Hebrew)
Confitebor tibi, Domine
By GRAHAM JOHN
A psalm of thanksgiving and resolve, affirming fidelity to God amid opposition and locating confidence not in power, but in truth and humility.
8 verses total
VERSUS 1–8 (LATIN + LITERAL ENGLISH + WORD NOTES)
1
Confitebor tibi, Domine, in toto corde meo: quoniam audisti verba oris mei.
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth.
Word Notes
- confiteor, confiteri, confessus sum — to give thanks, acknowledge
- totus, tota, totum — whole, entire
- cor, cordis (n.) — heart
- audio, audire, audivi, auditum — to hear
- os, oris (n.) — mouth
2
In conspectu angelorum psallam tibi: adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum, et confitebor nomini tuo.
In the presence of angels I will sing to you; I will worship toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name.
Word Notes
- conspectus, conspectūs (m.) — presence, sight
- angelus, angelī (m.) — angel
- psallo, psallere, psallivi — to sing, play
- adoro, adorare, adoravi, adoratum — to worship
- templum, templī (n.) — temple
3
Super misericordia tua et veritate tua: quoniam magnificasti super omne nomen sanctum tuum.
For your mercy and your truth; for you have exalted your holy name above every name.
Word Notes
- misericordia, misericordiae (f.) — mercy
- veritas, veritatis (f.) — truth
- magnifico, magnificare, magnificavi, magnificatum — to exalt, glorify
- sanctus, sancta, sanctum — holy
4
In quacumque die invocavero te, exaudies me: multiplicabis in anima mea virtutem.
On whatever day I call upon you, you will answer me; you will increase strength within my soul.
Word Notes
- invoco, invocare, invocavi, invocatum — to call upon
- exaudio, exaudire, exaudivi, exauditum — to hear, answer
- multiplico, multiplicare, multiplicavi — to increase
- virtus, virtutis (f.) — strength, courage
5
Confiteantur tibi, Domine, omnes reges terræ: quia audierunt omnia verba oris tui.
Let all the kings of the earth give thanks to you, O Lord, for they have heard all the words of your mouth.
Word Notes
- rex, regis (m.) — king
- terra, terrae (f.) — earth
6
Et cantent in viis Domini: quoniam magna est gloria Domini.
And let them sing in the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.
Word Notes
- cano, canere, cecini, cantum — to sing
- via, viae (f.) — way
- gloria, gloriae (f.) — glory
7
Quoniam excelsus Dominus, et humilia respicit: et alta a longe cognoscit.
For the Lord is exalted, yet he looks upon the lowly; the proud he knows from afar.
Word Notes
- excelsus, excelsa, excelsum — high, exalted
- humilis, humile — lowly, humble
- respicio, respicere, respexi, respectum — to look upon
- altus, alta, altum — high, proud
- a longe — from afar
8
Domine, misericordia tua in sæculum: opera manuum tuarum ne despicias.
O Lord, your mercy endures forever; do not despise the works of your hands.
Word Notes
- sæculum, sæculī (n.) — age, forever
- opus, operis (n.) — work
- manus, manūs (f.) — hand
- despicio, despicere, despexi, despectum — to despise
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES (5)
Identify tense, voice, mood, and principal parts:
- confitebor
- audisti
- invocavero
- respicit
- despicias
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES — KEY
confitebor
- Verb: confiteor, confiteri, confessus sum
- Tense: future
- Voice: deponent
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: I will give thanks
audisti
- Verb: audio, audire, audivi, auditum
- Tense: perfect
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: you have heard
invocavero
- Verb: invoco, invocare, invocavi, invocatum
- Tense: future perfect
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: when I shall have called
respicit
- Verb: respicio, respicere, respexi, respectum
- Tense: present
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: he looks upon
despicias
- Verb: despicio, despicere, despexi, despectum
- Tense: present
- Voice: active
- Mood: subjunctive (negative jussive)
- Meaning: may you not despise
TRANSLATION EXERCISES (5)
Translate into Latin:
- I will give thanks with my whole heart.
- You have heard the words of my mouth.
- You will increase strength in my soul.
- The Lord looks upon the humble.
- Do not despise the work of your hands.
TRANSLATION EXERCISES — KEY
- Confitebor in toto corde meo.
- Audisti verba oris mei.
- Multiplicabis virtutem in anima mea.
- Dominus humilia respicit.
- Opera manuum tuarum ne despicias.
SUMMARY (≈120 words)
Psalm 138 restores confidence without triumphalism. Gratitude arises not from dominance but from being heard. God’s greatness is not expressed through distance or power, but through attentiveness to the lowly and resistance to pride. Kings are summoned, not to submit by force, but to listen — authority is moral before it is political. The psalm closes with a plea that creation itself not be abandoned: human life is the work of God’s hands and therefore worthy of care. Thanksgiving here is not complacency, but courage — the decision to trust that mercy and truth endure even after exile and loss.
REFLECTION QUESTION
Where in your own life has confidence returned not through success, but through the experience of being heard and sustained?