(= Psalm 100 in Hebrew numbering)
A psalm of ethical resolve, inner discipline, and the cleansing of the inward house.
No truncation required.
Versus 1
Misericordiam et judicium cantabo tibi, Domine; psallam et intelligam in via immaculata: quando venies ad me?
I will sing of mercy and judgment to you, O Lord; I will play and ponder the blameless way: when will you come to me?
Word Notes:
- misericordia, -ae f. — mercy
- judicium, -ii n. — judgment
- psallo, psallere — to play, sing
- intellego, intelligere — to understand
- via immaculata — the unstained path
Versus 2
Perambulabam in innocentia cordis mei, in medio domus meae.
I walked in the innocence of my heart, within my own house.
Word Notes:
- perambulo, perambulare — to walk about
- innocentia, -ae f. — innocence
- domus, -us/-i f. — house; inward life
Versus 3
Non proponebam ante oculos meos rem injustam; facientes praevaricationes oderam.
I set no unjust thing before my eyes; I hated those who dealt treacherously.
Word Notes:
- propono, proponere — to place before
- praevaricatio, -onis f. — transgression
- odi, odisse — to hate (defective verb)
Versus 4
Non adhesit mihi cor pravum; declinantem a me malignum non cognoscebam.
A crooked heart clung not to me; the one who turned aside in malice I did not acknowledge.
Word Notes:
- adhaereo, adhaerere — to cling
- pravus, -a, -um — crooked, perverse
- cognosco, cognoscere — to know, recognise
Versus 5
Detrahentem secreto proximo suo, hunc persequebar; superbo oculo et insatiabili corde, hunc non edebam.
The one who slandered his neighbour in secret — him I drove away; the proud of eye and greedy of heart — him I would not endure.
Word Notes:
- detraho, detrahere — to slander
- superbus, -a, -um — proud
- insatiabilis, -e — insatiable, greedy
- edo, edere — to endure, tolerate (archaic usage)
Versus 6
Oculi mei ad fideles terrae ut sedeant mecum; ambulans in via immaculata hic mihi ministrabat.
My eyes were upon the faithful of the land, that they might dwell with me; the one walking in the blameless way — he served me.
Word Notes:
- fidelis, -e — faithful
- ministro, ministrare — to serve
Versus 7
Non habitabat in medio domus meae qui faciebat superbiam; qui loquebatur iniqua non direxit in conspectu oculorum meorum.
He who practised pride dwelt not in my house; the one who spoke unjust things did not stand firm before my eyes.
Word Notes:
- iniquus, -a, -um — unjust
- dirigo, dirigere — to set straight, stand firm
Versus 8
In matutino interficiebam omnes peccatores terrae, ut disperderem de civitate Domini omnes operantes iniquitatem.
Morning after morning I cut off all the sinners of the land, to destroy from the city of the Lord all who work iniquity.
Word Notes:
- interficio, interficere — to cut off, remove
- disperdo, disperdere — to destroy, root out
- civitas Domini — the Lord’s city; the ordered inner self
Summary Commentary
A psalm of moral vigilance.
Psalm 101 is the king’s personal code of life — a declaration that leadership begins with inner governance. The singer vows to keep a pure heart, a discerning eye, and a household (inner and literal) free from deceit and crookedness.
The house as the soul.
“In medio domus meae” signifies the inward life. The psalm describes the cleansing of the inner dwelling-place: banishing corrosive thoughts (slander, pride, perversity) and admitting only those qualities that serve truth and fidelity.
Daily renewal.
“In matutino interficiebam…” evokes the morning discipline of dismissing destructive impulses and renewing clarity. The “city of the Lord” refers metaphorically to the well-ordered self, where integrity rules and inner disorder is continually driven out.
The psalm expresses a spirituality of ethical resolve: mercy balanced by judgment, kindness joined with discernment, and an unwavering commitment to inner truth.
Exercises
(a) English → Latin Translation
Translate:
- I will sing of mercy and judgment.
- I walked in the innocence of my heart.
- A crooked heart clung not to me.
- My eyes were upon the faithful of the land.
Key:
- Misericordiam et judicium cantabo.
- Perambulabam in innocentia cordis mei.
- Non adhesit mihi cor pravum.
- Oculi mei ad fideles terrae.
(b) Verb Form Practice
canto – cantare
perambulo – perambulare
adhaereo – adhaerere
detraho – detrahere
ministro – ministrare
Model answers:
- canto / cantabam / cantabo
- perambulo / perambulabam / perambulabo
- adhaereo / adhaerebam / adhaerebo
- detraho / detrahebam / detraham
- ministro / ministrabam / ministrabo
(c) Reflection Questions
- Which “voices” in the inner life correspond to slander, pride, or crookedness?
- What does it mean to cleanse the inner “house”?
- How do mercy and judgment balance one another in forming a healthy self?