— Psalm 148 (Vulgate / Hebrew)
Laudate Dominum de cælis
By GRAHAM JOHN
A universal summons to praise, calling all levels of creation — heavenly, earthly, animate, and human — to acknowledge the sustaining word and exalted name of God.
14 verses total
VERSUS 1–14 (LATIN + LITERAL ENGLISH + WORD NOTES)
1
Laudate Dominum de cælis: laudate eum in excelsis.
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights.
Word Notes
- laudō, laudāre, laudāvī, laudātum — to praise
- cælum, cælī (n.) — heaven
- excelsus, excelsa, excelsum — high, exalted
2
Laudate eum, omnes angeli ejus: laudate eum, omnes virtutes ejus.
Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts.
Word Notes
- angelus, angelī (m.) — angel, messenger
- virtūs, virtūtis (f.) — power, host
3
Laudate eum, sol et luna: laudate eum, omnes stellæ et lumen.
Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all stars of light.
Word Notes
- sōl, sōlis (m.) — sun
- lūna, lūnae (f.) — moon
- stella, stellae (f.) — star
- lūmen, lūminis (n.) — light
4
Laudate eum, cæli cælorum: et aquæ omnes, quæ super cælos sunt.
Praise him, highest heavens, and all waters above the heavens.
Word Notes
- cæli cælorum — heavens of heavens
- aqua, aquae (f.) — water
5
Laudent nomen Domini: quia ipse dixit, et facta sunt: ipse mandavit, et creata sunt.
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he spoke and they were made; he commanded and they were created.
Word Notes
- nōmen, nōminis (n.) — name
- dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum — to speak
- fīō, fierī, factus sum — to be made
- mandō, mandāre, mandāvī — to command
- creō, creāre, creāvī — to create
6
Statuit ea in æternum, et in sæculum sæculi: præceptum posuit, et non præteribit.
He established them forever and ever; he set a decree that shall not pass away.
Word Notes
- statuō, statuere, statuī, statutum — to establish
- æternus, æterna, æternum — eternal
- præceptum, præceptī (n.) — decree
- prætereō, præterīre, præteriī — to pass away
7
Laudate Dominum de terra, dracones et omnes abyssi.
Praise the Lord from the earth, sea-monsters and all deeps.
Word Notes
- terra, terrae (f.) — earth
- dracō, dracōnis (m.) — sea monster
- abyssus, abyssi (f.) — deep
8
Ignis, grando, nix, glacies, spiritus procellarum: quæ faciunt verbum ejus.
Fire, hail, snow, ice, stormy wind, fulfilling his word.
Word Notes
- ignis, ignis (m.) — fire
- grando, grandinis (f.) — hail
- nix, nivis (f.) — snow
- glaciēs, glaciēī (f.) — ice
- spīritus, spīritūs (m.) — wind, breath
- procella, procellae (f.) — storm
9
Montes et omnes colles: ligna fructifera et omnes cedri.
Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars.
Word Notes
- mōns, montis (m.) — mountain
- collis, collis (m.) — hill
- lignum, lignī (n.) — tree
- cedrus, cedrī (f.) — cedar
10
Bestiæ et universa pecora: serpentes et volucres pennatæ.
Beasts and all cattle, creeping things and winged birds.
Word Notes
- bestia, bestiae (f.) — beast
- pecus, pecoris (n.) — cattle
- serpens, serpentis (m./f.) — creeping thing
- volucris, volucris (f.) — bird
- pennatus, pennata, pennatum — winged
11
Reges terræ et omnes populi: principes et omnes judices terræ.
Kings of the earth and all peoples, rulers and all judges of the earth.
Word Notes
- rēx, rēgis (m.) — king
- populus, populī (m.) — people
- prīnceps, prīncipis (m.) — ruler
- judex, judicis (m.) — judge
12
Juvenes et virgines, senes cum junioribus.
Young men and maidens, old and young together.
Word Notes
- juvenis, juvenis (m./f.) — young person
- virgo, virginis (f.) — maiden
- senex, senis (m.) — old person
13
Laudent nomen Domini: quia exaltatum est nomen ejus solius.
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted.
Word Notes
- exaltō, exaltāre, exaltāvī, exaltātum — to exalt
- sōlus, sōla, sōlum — alone
14
Confessio ejus super cælum et terram: et exaltavit cornu populi sui.
His praise is above heaven and earth, and he has raised up the horn of his people.
Word Notes
- confessiō, confessionis (f.) — praise
- cornu, cornūs (n.) — horn, strength
- populus, populī (m.) — people
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES (5)
Identify tense, voice, mood, and principal parts:
- laudate
- facta sunt
- statuit
- faciunt
- exaltavit
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES — KEY
laudate
- Verb: laudō, laudāre, laudāvī, laudātum
- Tense: present
- Voice: active
- Mood: imperative (plural)
- Meaning: praise!
facta sunt
- Verb: fīō, fierī, factus sum
- Tense: perfect
- Voice: passive
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: were made
statuit
- Verb: statuō, statuere, statuī, statutum
- Tense: perfect
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: he established
faciunt
- Verb: faciō, facere, fēcī, factum
- Tense: present
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: they do / fulfil
exaltavit
- Verb: exaltō, exaltāre, exaltāvī
- Tense: perfect
- Voice: active
- Mood: indicative
- Meaning: he has exalted
TRANSLATION EXERCISES (5)
Translate into Latin:
- Praise the Lord from the heavens.
- He spoke, and they were made.
- Fire and snow fulfil his word.
- Kings and peoples praise the Lord.
- His name alone is exalted.
TRANSLATION EXERCISES — KEY
- Laudate Dominum de cælis.
- Ipse dixit, et facta sunt.
- Ignis et nix faciunt verbum ejus.
- Reges et populi laudant Dominum.
- Nomen ejus solius exaltatum est.
SUMMARY (≈120 words)
Psalm 148 is praise without argument. No reasons are debated, no distress rehearsed. Instead, the psalm assumes that existence itself is sufficient cause. From angels to weather, from kings to children, every level of reality is summoned into a single act of acknowledgement. Creation is portrayed not as passive matter but as responsive order, already obeying the word that called it into being. Humanity’s task is not control but participation — joining a praise already underway. The final note returns to covenant: the God praised by the cosmos is also the one who raises the strength of his people. Universality and intimacy are held together without strain.
REFLECTION QUESTION
What changes when praise is understood not as persuasion or petition, but as participation in a larger order already at work?