(= Psalm 105 in Hebrew numbering)
A historical psalm celebrating God’s fidelity across generations.
No truncation of text, but Study Format notes apply only to verses 1–20.
Versus 1
Confitemini Domino, et invocate nomen eius; annuntiate inter gentes opera eius.
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name;
declare his works among the nations.
Word Notes:
- confiteor, -eri – to give thanks, acknowledge.
- invoco, -are – to call upon.
- annuntio, -are – to proclaim, announce.
- gens, gentis f. – nation, peoples.
Versus 2
Cantate ei, et psallite ei; narrate omnia mirabilia eius.
Sing to him, play to him; recount all his wonders.
Word Notes:
- psallo, -ere – to play/sing (sacred music).
- narro, -are – to tell, relate.
- mirabile, -is n. – wonder, marvel.
Versus 3
Laudate nomen sanctum eius; laetetur cor quaerentium Dominum.
Praise his holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Word Notes:
- laudo, -are – to praise.
- quaero, -ere – to seek.
Versus 4
Quaerite Dominum, et confirmamini; quaerite faciem eius semper.
Seek the Lord and be strengthened; seek his face always.
Word Notes:
- confirmo, -are – to strengthen, make firm.
- facies, -ei f. – face, presence (biblical: divine presence).
Versus 5
Mementote mirabilium eius quae fecit; prodigia eius, et iudicia oris eius.
Remember the wonders he has done: his marvels and the judgments of his mouth.
Word Notes:
- memini, meminisse – to remember (defective).
- prodigium, -ii n. – marvel, portent.
- iudicium, -ii n. – judgment.
Versus 6
Semen Abraham servi eius; filii Iacob electi eius.
Seed of Abraham his servant, children of Jacob his chosen ones.
Word Notes:
- semen, -inis n. – seed, descendants.
- electus, -a, -um – chosen.
Versus 7
Ipse Dominus Deus noster; in universa terra iudicia eius.
He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
Word Notes:
- universus, -a, -um – the whole, entire.
Versus 8
Memor fuit in saeculum testamenti sui; verbi quod mandavit in mille generationes.
He remembered forever his covenant—
the word he commanded for a thousand generations.
Word Notes:
- testamentum, -i n. – covenant.
- mando, -are – to command, entrust.
Versus 9
Quod disposuit ad Abraham; et iuramenti sui ad Isaac.
Which he established with Abraham, and the oath he swore to Isaac.
Word Notes:
- dispono, -ere – to arrange, establish.
- iuramentum, -i n. – oath.
Versus 10
Et statuivit illud Iacob in praeceptum, et Israel in testamentum aeternum.
He confirmed it for Jacob as a decree, for Israel as an eternal covenant.
Word Notes:
- statuo, -ere – to set up, establish.
- praeceptum, -i n. – commandment, decree.
- aeternus, -a, -um – eternal.
Versus 11
Dicens: Tibi dabo terram Chanaan, funiculum hereditatis vestrae.
Saying: To you I will give the land of Canaan, the line of your inheritance.
Word Notes:
- funiculus, -i m. – measuring line, hence portion, allotment.
- hereditas, -atis f. – inheritance.
Versus 12
Cum essent numero brevi, paucissimi et incolae eius.
When they were few in number, very few and sojourners in it.
Word Notes:
- paucus, -a, -um – few.
- incola, -ae m. – resident alien, sojourner.
Versus 13
Et pertransierunt de gente in gentem, et de regno ad populum alterum.
And they passed from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.
Word Notes:
- pertranseo, -ire – to pass through.
- populus alter – a foreign people.
Versus 14
Non reliquit hominem nocere eis, et corripuit pro eis reges.
He allowed no man to harm them; for their sake he rebuked kings.
Word Notes:
- relinquo, -ere – to allow, leave.
- corripio, -ere – to rebuke, seize.
Versus 15
Nolite tangere christos meos, et in prophetis meis nolite malignari.
Do not touch my anointed ones, and do no harm to my prophets.
Word Notes:
- christus, -i m. – anointed one.
- maligno, -are – to harm, treat wickedly.
Versus 16
Et vocavit famem super terram, et omne firmamentum panis contrivit.
He called a famine upon the land; he broke every staff of bread.
Word Notes:
- fames, -is f. – famine, hunger.
- contrivo, -ere – to crush, break.
Versus 17
Misit ante eos virum; in servum venundatus est Ioseph.
He sent a man before them; Joseph was sold into slavery.
Word Notes:
- mitto, -ere – to send.
- venundo, -are – to sell.
Versus 18
Humiliaverunt in compedibus pedes eius; ferrum pertransiit anima eius.
They humbled his feet in fetters; iron pierced his soul.
Word Notes:
- compes, -edis f. – fetters, shackles.
- pertranseo, -ire – to go through, pierce.
Versus 19
Donec veniret verbum eius; eloquium Domini inflammavit eum.
Until his word came to pass; the Lord’s saying tested him with fire.
Word Notes:
- eloquium, -ii n. – utterance, divine word.
- inflammare – to inflame, test, refine (metaphor).
Versus 20
Misit rex, et solvit eum; princeps populorum, et dimisit eum.
The king sent and freed him; the ruler of peoples released him.
Word Notes:
- solvo, -ere – to free, loosen.
- dimito, -ere – to dismiss, release.
Verses 21–45 (Latin + literal English translation, no notes)
21 Constituit eum dominum domus suae, et principem omnis possessionis suae.
He made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions.
22 Ut erudiret principes eius sicut semetipsum, et senes eius prudentiam doceret.
So that he might instruct his princes as himself and teach wisdom to his elders.
23 Et intravit Israel in Aegyptum, et Iacob colonus fuit in terra Cham.
Israel entered Egypt; Jacob was a sojourner in the land of Ham.
24 Et auxit populum suum vehementer, et firmavit eum super hostes eius.
He made his people greatly increase and strengthened them over their enemies.
25 Convertit cor eorum, ut odirent populum eius, et dolum facerent in servos eius.
He turned their hearts to hate his people and to deal craftily with his servants.
26 Misit Moysen servum suum, Aaron quem elegit sibi.
He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27 Posuit in eis verba signorum suorum, et prodigiorum in terra Cham.
He set among them words of his signs and wonders in the land of Ham.
28 Misit tenebras, et obscuravit; et non exacerbavit sermones suos.
He sent darkness and made it dark; yet they did not rebel against his word.
29 Convertit aquas eorum in sanguinem, et occidit pisces eorum.
He turned their waters into blood and killed their fish.
30 Edidit terra eorum ranas, in penetrabilibus regum ipsorum.
Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings.
31 Dixit, et venit cynomyia, et ciniphes in omnibus finibus eorum.
He spoke, and swarms of flies came, and gnats in all their borders.
32 Posuit pluvias eorum grandinem; ignem comburentem in terra ipsorum.
He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
33 Et percussit vineas eorum, et ficus eorum, et contrivit lignum finium eorum.
He struck their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their land.
34 Dixit, et venit locusta, et bruchus cuius non erat numerus.
He spoke, and locusts came, and caterpillars without number.
35 Et comedit omne fenum in terra eorum, et comedit omne fructum terrae eorum.
They devoured all the grass of their land and all the fruit of their soil.
36 Et percussit omne primogenitum in terra eorum, primitias omnis laboris eorum.
He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.
37 Et eduxit eos cum argento et auro; et non erat in tribubus eorum infirmus.
He brought them out with silver and gold; none among their tribes stumbled.
38 Laetata est Aegyptus in profectione eorum, quia incubuit timor eorum super eos.
Egypt rejoiced at their departure, for fear of them had fallen upon them.
39 Expandit nubem in protectionem eorum, et ignem ut luceret eis per noctem.
He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light at night.
40 Petierunt, et venit coturnix; et pane caeli saturavit eos.
They asked, and quails came; he satisfied them with bread of heaven.
41 Aperuit petram, et fluxerunt aquae; cucurrerunt in sicco flumina.
He opened the rock and waters flowed; rivers ran in dry places.
42 Quoniam memor fuit verbi sancti sui, quod habuit ad Abraham puerum suum.
For he remembered his holy word spoken to Abraham his servant.
43 Et eduxit populum suum in exultatione, et electos suos in laetitia.
He brought out his people in exultation, his chosen ones in joy.
44 Et dedit illis regiones Gentium, et labores populorum possederunt.
He gave them the lands of the nations, and they inherited the labours of peoples.
45 Ut custodiant iustificationes eius, et legem eius requirant.
So that they might keep his statutes and observe his law.
Summary Commentary
Psalm 104/105 is one of the great historical psalms, functioning as a meditation on:
- Memory — remembering God’s past acts grounds present faith.
- Election — the covenant with Abraham unfolds across generations.
- Providence — Joseph’s suffering becomes the means of Israel’s survival.
- Liberation — Moses, the plagues, and the Exodus stand as archetypes of inner freedom.
- Formation — the psalm ends with the purpose:
“that they might keep his statutes.”
In psychological terms:
- Joseph represents the soul under pressure, refined by trial.
- Egypt represents the state of inner bondage.
- The Exodus becomes the movement toward individuation, the formation of a distinct inner life under a new order.
Exercises
(a) English → Latin Translation
- Remember the wonders he has done.
Mementote mirabilium eius quae fecit. - He strengthened his people greatly.
Auxit populum suum vehementer. - Do not touch my anointed ones.
Nolite tangere christos meos. - He brought them out in exultation.
Eduxit populum suum in exultatione.
(b) Verb Practice (present / imperfect / future)
- memini (defective) – memineram – meminero
- auxo, -are – auxabam – auxabo
- tango, -ere – tangebam – tangam
- educo, -ere – educabam – educam
(c) Reflection Questions
- What is your personal “Egypt”?
- How do memories of past deliverance shape present identity?
- What does the Joseph story teach about purpose in adversity?
- What are the “plagues” that unsettle and liberate the inner self?