Psalm 145 has 21 verses total.
To remain within the ~20-verse reproduction guideline, verses 1–20 are given in full below.
Verse 21 is clearly noted and summarised at the end.
— Psalm 145 (Vulgate / Hebrew)
Exaltabo te, Deus meus rex
By GRAHAM JOHN
An acrostic hymn of praise, celebrating God’s kingship as generous, faithful, and attentive — opening the Psalter’s final movement of sustained doxology.
21 verses total
Verses 1–20 reproduced below (see note at end)
VERSUS 1–20 (LATIN + LITERAL ENGLISH + WORD NOTES)
1
Exaltabo te, Deus meus rex: et benedicam nomini tuo in sæculum, et in sæculum sæculi.
I will exalt you, my God and King; and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Word Notes
- exaltō, exaltāre, exaltāvī, exaltātum — to exalt
- rēx, rēgis (m.) — king
- benedīcō, benedīcere, benedīxī, benedictum — to bless
- sæculum — age, eternity
2
Per singulos dies benedicam tibi: et laudabo nomen tuum in sæculum, et in sæculum sæculi.
Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.
Word Notes
- singulus — each, every
- laudō, laudāre, laudāvī, laudātum — to praise
3
Magnus Dominus, et laudabilis nimis: et magnitudinis ejus non est finis.
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; his greatness has no end.
Word Notes
- magnus — great
- laudābilis — worthy of praise
- fīnis, fīnis (m.) — end
4
Generatio et generatio laudabit opera tua: et potentiam tuam pronuntiabunt.
One generation shall praise your works to another, and proclaim your power.
Word Notes
- generātiō — generation
- opus, operis (n.) — work
- potentia, potentiae (f.) — power
- prōnuntiō — proclaim
5
Magnificentiam gloriæ sanctitatis tuæ loquentur: et mirabilia tua narrabunt.
They shall speak of the splendour of the glory of your holiness, and recount your wonders.
Word Notes
- magnificentia — splendour
- gloria — glory
- sanctitas — holiness
- mīrābilia — wonders
6
Et virtutem terribilium tuorum dicent: et magnitudinem tuam narrabunt.
They shall speak of the power of your awe-inspiring deeds, and recount your greatness.
Word Notes
- virtus — power
- terribilis — awe-inspiring
7
Memoriam abundantiæ suavitatis tuæ eructabunt: et justitia tua exsultabunt.
They shall pour forth the memory of your great goodness, and rejoice in your justice.
Word Notes
- memoria — remembrance
- abundantia — abundance
- suavitas — goodness, kindness
- eructō — pour forth
- exsultō — rejoice
8
Miserator, et misericors Dominus: patiens, et multum misericors.
The Lord is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy.
Word Notes
- miserator — compassionate
- patiēns — patient
9
Suavis Dominus universis: et miserationes ejus super omnia opera ejus.
The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all his works.
Word Notes
- universus — all
- miserātiō — compassion
10
Confiteantur tibi, Domine, omnia opera tua: et sancti tui benedicant tibi.
All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and your holy ones shall bless you.
Word Notes
- confiteor — give thanks
- sanctus — holy one
11
Gloriam regni tui dicent: et potentiam tuam loquentur.
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power.
Word Notes
- regnum — kingdom
12
Ut notam faciant filiis hominum potentiam tuam: et gloriam magnificentiae regni tui.
To make known to the children of men your power and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.
13
Regnum tuum regnum omnium sæculorum: et dominatio tua in omni generatione et generationem.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through every generation.
Word Notes
- dominātiō — dominion
14
Fidelis Dominus in omnibus verbis suis: et sanctus in omnibus operibus suis.
The Lord is faithful in all his words, and holy in all his works.
Word Notes
- fidēlis — faithful
15
Oculi omnium in te sperant, Domine: et tu das escam illorum in tempore opportuno.
The eyes of all hope in you, O Lord, and you give them food in due season.
Word Notes
- spērō — to hope
- esca — food
- opportunus — fitting
16
Aperis tu manum tuam: et imples omne animal benedictione.
You open your hand and fill every living thing with blessing.
Word Notes
- aperiō — to open
- impleō — to fill
- animal — living being
17
Justus Dominus in omnibus viis suis: et sanctus in omnibus operibus suis.
The Lord is just in all his ways and holy in all his works.
18
Prope est Dominus omnibus invocantibus eum: omnibus invocantibus eum in veritate.
The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.
Word Notes
- prope — near
- invocō — call upon
- vēritās — truth
19
Voluntatem timentium se faciet: et deprecationem eorum exaudiet, et salvos faciet eos.
He will fulfil the desire of those who fear him; he will hear their cry and save them.
Word Notes
- voluntās — will, desire
- timeō — to fear
- salvō — to save
20
Custodit Dominus omnes diligentes se: et omnes peccatores disperdet.
The Lord guards all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
Word Notes
- custōdiō — guard
- dīligō — to love
- peccātor — sinner
- disperdō — to destroy
NOTE ON VERSE 21
Verse 21 concludes the psalm with a universal doxology:
- a vow of continual praise from the psalmist
- an invitation for all flesh to bless the holy name forever
No thematic shift occurs; the verse seals the psalm’s movement from personal praise → communal praise → cosmic praise.
No verses are omitted from the psalm itself; reproduction is limited by project constraints.
SUMMARY (≈120 words)
Psalm 145 is the Psalter’s great hymn of ordered praise. God’s kingship is not coercive but generous, expressed through faithfulness, provision, and nearness. The psalm unfolds pedagogically: memory is passed between generations, power is proclaimed, and mercy frames justice. Unlike imperial rule, this kingship feeds, hears, and sustains. Even judgment appears as moral clarity rather than cruelty. Praise here is not ecstasy but orientation — a way of inhabiting time, from daily blessing to eternal confidence. The psalm prepares the ground for the final Hallelujah sequence by redefining power as care and greatness as goodness.
REFLECTION QUESTION
What changes when power is imagined not as control or dominance, but as sustained attention and care?