This psalm turns inward again, focusing on discipline of speech, self-restraint, and moral vigilance — a natural counterbalance to the dangers described in the previous psalm.
— Psalm 141 (Vulgate / Hebrew)
Domine, clamavi ad te
By GRAHAM JOHN
A psalm of guarded devotion, seeking protection not only from enemies, but from one’s own speech, appetites, and moral drift.
10 verses total
VERSUS 1–10 (LATIN + LITERAL ENGLISH + WORD NOTES)
1
Domine, clamavi ad te, exaudi me: intende voci meæ, cum clamavero ad te.
O Lord, I have cried to you; hear me: attend to my voice when I cry to you.
Word Notes
- clamō, clamāre, clamāvī, clamātum — to cry out
- exaudiō, exaudīre, exaudīvī, exaudītum — to hear, answer
- intendō, intendere, intendī, intentum — to attend to
- vox, vocis (f.) — voice
2
Dirigatur oratio mea sicut incensum in conspectu tuo: elevatio manuum mearum sacrificium vespertinum.
Let my prayer be directed like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands an evening sacrifice.
Word Notes
- dīrigō, dīrigere, dīrēxī, dīrectum — to direct
- ōrātiō, ōrātiōnis (f.) — prayer
- incēnsum, incēnsī (n.) — incense
- cōnspectus, cōnspectūs (m.) — presence
- sacrificium, sacrificiī (n.) — sacrifice
- vespertinus — evening
3
Pone, Domine, custodiam ori meo: et ostium circumstantiæ labiis meis.
Set, O Lord, a guard over my mouth; and a door of restraint upon my lips.
Word Notes
- pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positum — to place
- custōdia, custōdiae (f.) — guard, watch
- ōs, ōris (n.) — mouth
- ōstium, ōstiī (n.) — door
- circumstantia — restraint, enclosure (Vulgate nuance)
- labium, labiī (n.) — lip
4
Non declines cor meum in verba malitiæ, ad excusandas excusationes in peccatis.
Do not incline my heart toward words of malice, to make excuses for sins.
Word Notes
- dēclīnō, dēclīnāre, dēclīnāvī — to incline, turn aside
- cor, cordis (n.) — heart
- malitia, malitiae (f.) — malice, evil intent
- excusō, excusāre, excusāvī — to excuse
5
Cum hominibus operantibus iniquitatem: et non communicabo cum electis eorum.
With men who work injustice; and I will not share in their chosen ways.
Word Notes
- operō, operārī, operātus sum — to work
- iniquitas, iniquitatis (f.) — injustice
- communicō, communicāre, communicāvī — to share
- ēlectus, ēlecta, ēlectum — chosen
6
Corripiet me justus in misericordia, et increpabit me: oleum autem peccatoris non impinguet caput meum.
Let the righteous strike me in mercy and reprove me; but the oil of the sinner must not anoint my head.
Word Notes
- corripiō, corripere, corripuī, correptum — to correct, strike
- increpō, increpāre, increpāvī — to rebuke
- oleum, oleī (n.) — oil
- impinguō, impinguāre — to fatten, anoint
7
Quoniam adhuc et oratio mea in beneplacitis eorum.
For even now my prayer is against their pleasures.
Word Notes
- adhūc — still, yet
- beneplacitum, beneplacitī (n.) — pleasure, approval
8
Absorpti sunt juncti petræ judices eorum: audient verba mea quoniam potuerunt.
Their judges were swallowed up beside the rock; they heard my words, for they prevailed.
Word Notes
- absorbeō, absorbēre, absorbuī — to swallow up
- petra, petrae (f.) — rock
- judex, judicis (m.) — judge
9
Sicut crassitudo terræ erupta est super terram, dissipata sunt ossa nostra secus infernum.
As clods of earth are scattered on the ground, so our bones were scattered near the grave.
Word Notes
- crassitūdō, crassitūdinis (f.) — clod, mass
- ērumpō, ērumpere, ērūpī — to break out
- os, ossis (n.) — bone
- infernus — grave, depths
10
Quia ad te, Domine, Domine, oculi mei: in te speravi, non auferas animam meam.
For my eyes are toward you, O Lord, Lord; in you I have hoped — do not take away my soul.
Word Notes
- oculus, oculī (m.) — eye
- sperō, sperāre, sperāvī — to hope
- auferō, auferre, abstulī, ablātum — to take away
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES (5)
Identify tense, voice, mood, and principal parts:
- dirigatur
- pone
- declines
- corripiet
- speravi
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES — KEY
dirigatur
- Verb: dīrigō, dīrigere, dīrēxī, dīrectum
- Tense: present
- Voice: passive
- Mood: subjunctive (jussive)
- Meaning: let it be directed
pone
- Verb: pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positum
- Tense: present
- Voice: active
- Mood: imperative
- Meaning: set!
declines
- Verb: dēclīnō, dēclīnāre, dēclīnāvī
- Tense: present
- Voice: active
- Mood: subjunctive (negative jussive)
- Meaning: may you not incline
corripiet
- Verb: corripiō, corripere, corripuī, correptum
- Tense: future
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: he will correct
speravi
- Verb: sperō, sperāre, sperāvī
- Tense: perfect
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: I have hoped
TRANSLATION EXERCISES (5)
Translate into Latin:
- Let my prayer rise like incense.
- Set a guard over my mouth.
- Do not incline my heart to evil.
- The righteous corrects in mercy.
- In you I have hoped.
TRANSLATION EXERCISES — KEY
- Dirigatur oratio mea sicut incensum.
- Pone custodiam ori meo.
- Non declines cor meum in malitiam.
- Justus corripiet in misericordia.
- In te speravi.
SUMMARY (≈120 words)
Psalm 141 is a disciplined prayer for integrity. The chief danger is not persecution but participation — slipping into harmful speech, rationalisation, or shared injustice. The psalmist asks first for restraint of the mouth, recognising language as a moral gateway. Notably, rebuke from the righteous is welcomed as healing, while the seductive “oil” of the wicked is refused. Faithfulness here is vigilance: prayer as incense, hands lifted at dusk, eyes fixed forward. The psalm teaches that survival of the soul depends less on winning conflicts than on guarding the self from corruption.
REFLECTION QUESTION
Where in your own life would greater restraint of speech — or openness to correction — serve as an act of spiritual protection?