1. Domine Deus meus, in te speravi: salvum me fac ex omnibus persequentibus me, et libera me.
Lord my God, in you I have hoped: save me from all who pursue me, and deliver me.
Notes:
- speravi – 1st sg. perf. act. ind. of spero, sperare, speravi, speratum – to hope.
- fac – 2nd sg. pres. act. imper. of facio, facere, feci, factum – to make, do.
- persequentibus – abl. pl. pres. act. part. of persequor, persequi, persecutus sum – to pursue.
- libera – 2nd sg. pres. act. imper. of libero, liberare, liberavi, liberatum – to free.
- ex omnibus – ex + abl. = “out of, from.” Here = “from all [my pursuers].”
2. Nequando rapiat ut leo animam meam, dum non est qui redimat, neque qui salvum faciat.
Lest like a lion he seize my soul, while there is none to redeem, nor anyone to save.
Notes:
- rapiat – 3rd sg. pres. act. subj. of rapio, rapere, rapui, raptum – to seize.
- redimat – 3rd sg. pres. act. subj. of redimo, redimere, redemi, redemptum – to redeem.
**3. Domine Deus meus, si feci istud, si est iniquitas in manibus meis;
O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands;
Notes:
- feci – 1st sg. perf. act. ind. of facio.
- est – 3rd sg. pres. act. ind. of sum, esse, fui – to be.
- in manibus meis – in + abl. = “in my hands,” metaphorical for guilt or wrongdoing.
4. Si reddidi retribuentibus mihi mala, decidam merito ab inimicis meis inanis.
If I have repaid evil to those who dealt evil to me, then let me deservedly fall, empty, by my enemies / before my enemies.
Notes:
- reddidi – 1st sg. perf. act. ind. of reddo, reddere, reddidi, redditum – to give back, repay.
- decidam – 1st sg. fut./pres. subj. of decido, decidere, decidi – to fall down.
- inanis – nom. sg. 3rd decl. adj. inanis, inane – empty, worthless.
- ab inimicis meis – ab + abl. of agent: literally “by my enemies.” Idiomatically “before my enemies” (humiliation/defeat).
5. Persequatur inimicus animam meam, et comprehendat, et conculcet in terra vitam meam, et gloriam meam in pulverem deducat.
Let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it, and trample my life on the earth, and bring my glory down to the dust.
Notes:
- persequatur – 3rd sg. pres. subj. of persequor.
- comprehendat – 3rd sg. pres. subj. of comprehendo – to seize.
- conculcet – 3rd sg. pres. subj. of conculco – to trample.
- deducat – 3rd sg. pres. subj. of deduco – to lead down.
- in terra – in + abl. = location, “on the earth.”
- in pulverem – in + acc. = motion toward, “into the dust.”
**6. Exsurge, Domine, in ira tua: et exaltare in finibus inimicorum meorum.
Arise, O Lord, in your anger: and be exalted over the borders of my enemies.
Notes:
- exsurge – 2nd sg. pres. act. imper. of exsurgo – to arise.
- exaltare – pres. inf. act. of exalto – infinitive used as imperative, “be exalted.”
- in ira tua – in + abl. = “in [the state of] your anger.”
- in finibus inimicorum – in + abl. = “within the territory / over the borders of my enemies.”
7. Et exsurge, Domine Deus meus, in præcepto quod mandasti:
And arise, O Lord my God, in the command you have given:
Notes:
- mandasti – 2nd sg. perf. act. ind. of mando – to order.
- in præcepto – in + abl. = “according to / on the basis of the command.”
8. Et synagoga populorum circumdabit te: et propter hanc in altum regredere.
And the assembly of the peoples shall surround you: and for their sake return on high.
Notes:
- circumdabit – 3rd sg. fut. act. ind. of circumdo – to surround.
- regredere – 2nd sg. pres. dep. imper. of regredior – to go back.
- in altum – in + acc. = motion toward, “back to the heights.”
**9. Dominus judicabit populos: judica me, Domine, secundum justitiam meam, et secundum innocentiam meam super me.
The Lord shall judge the peoples: judge me, O Lord, according to my justice, and according to my innocence within me.
Notes:
- judicabit – 3rd sg. fut. act. ind. of judico – to judge.
- judica – 2nd sg. pres. act. imper. of judico.
- secundum + acc. = “according to.”
10. Consumetur nequitia peccatorum, et diriges justum, scrutans corda et renes Deus.
Let the wickedness of sinners come to an end, and guide the just one, O God who searches hearts and reins.
Notes:
- consumetur – 3rd sg. fut./pres. pass. ind. of consumo – to consume.
- diriges – 2nd sg. fut. act. ind. of dirigo – to guide.
- scrutans – nom. sg. pres. act. part. of scrutor – to search.
11. Justum adjutorium meum a Domino, qui salvos facit rectos corde.
My righteous help is from the Lord, who saves the upright in heart.
Notes:
- facit – 3rd sg. pres. act. ind. of facio.
- a Domino – a/ab + abl. = source or agent, “from the Lord.”
**12. Deus judex justus, fortis, et patiens: numquid irascitur per singulos dies?
God is a just judge, strong and patient: surely he will not be angry through every single day?
Notes:
- numquid – rhetorical interrogative particle, expecting “no.”
- irascitur – 3rd sg. pres. dep. ind. of irascor – to be angry.
- per singulos dies – per + acc. = “through, during,” here “every single day.”
13. Nisi conversi fueritis, gladium suum vibrabit: arcum suum tetendit, et paravit illum.
Unless you are converted, he will brandish his sword: he has bent his bow and prepared it.
Notes:
- fueritis – 2nd pl. fut. perf. act. ind./subj. of sum.
- vibrabit – 3rd sg. fut. act. ind. of vibro – to brandish.
- tetendit – 3rd sg. perf. act. ind. of tendo – to stretch.
- paravit – 3rd sg. perf. act. ind. of paro – to prepare.
14. Et in eo paravit vasa mortis: sagittas suas ardentibus effecit.
And in it he has prepared instruments of death: he has made his arrows fiery.
Notes:
- vasa – acc. pl. of vas, vasis (n.) – vessel, instrument; here = weapons.
- effecit – 3rd sg. perf. act. ind. of efficio – to make.
- in eo – in + abl. = “in it / therewith.”
15. Ecce parturiit injustitiam: concepit dolorem, et peperit iniquitatem.
Behold, he travailed with injustice: he conceived sorrow, and gave birth to iniquity.
Notes:
- Subject = the wicked man (implied).
- parturiit – 3rd sg. perf. act. ind. of parturio – to be in labor.
- concepit – 3rd sg. perf. act. ind. of concipio – to conceive.
- peperit – 3rd sg. perf. act. ind. of pario – to give birth.
16. Lacum aperuit, et effodit eum: et incidit in foveam quam fecit.
He opened a pit, and dug it: and fell into the hole which he made.
Notes:
- aperuit – 3rd sg. perf. act. ind. of aperio – to open.
- effodit – 3rd sg. perf. act. ind. of effodio – to dig out.
- incidit – 3rd sg. perf. act. ind. of incido – to fall into.
- in foveam – in + acc. = motion toward.
- fovea – “pit, hole, cavity”; survives in modern anatomy (fovea centralis in the eye).
17. Convertetur dolor ejus in caput ejus: et in verticem ipsius iniquitas ejus descendet.
His sorrow shall return upon his own head: and his iniquity shall descend upon his crown.
Notes:
- convertetur – 3rd sg. fut./pres. pass. ind. of converto – to turn back.
- descendet – 3rd sg. fut. act. ind. of descendo – to descend.
- in caput / in verticem – in + acc. = onto/upon.
18. Confitebor Domino secundum justitiam ejus: et psallam nomini Domini altissimi.
I will give thanks to the Lord according to his righteousness: and I will sing to the name of the Lord Most High.
Notes:
- confitebor – 1st sg. fut. dep. ind. of confiteor – to confess, give thanks.
- psallam – 1st sg. fut. act. ind. of psallo – to sing, play.
✅ Now the verbs, particles, key nouns/adjectives, and all prepositional nuances are covered.
Would you like me to continue this expanded system with Psalm 8, so you build a continuous annotated Psalter?