— Psalms 114–115 (Hebrew)
In exitu Israel de Aegypto
By GRAHAM JOHN
A composite psalm of deliverance and trust, recalling Israel’s exodus and contrasting the living God with powerless idols, before reaffirming confidence in divine protection.
26 verses total
VERSUS 1–26 (Latin + Literal English + Word Notes)
1
In exitu Israel de Aegypto, domus Iacob de populo barbaro,
When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a foreign people,
Word Notes:
- exitus, -us m. — departure, going out
- Aegyptus, -i f. — Egypt
- domus, -us f. — house, family
- barbarus, -a, -um — foreign, non-native
2
Facta est Iudaea sanctificatio eius, Israel potestas eius.
Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
Word Notes:
- facio, facere — to make
- sanctificatio, -onis f. — sanctification, holy place
- potestas, -atis f. — power, dominion
3
Mare vidit et fugit; Iordanis conversus est retrorsum.
The sea saw and fled; the Jordan was turned back.
Word Notes:
- mare, maris n. — sea
- fugio, fugere — to flee
- converto, convertere — to turn
- retrorsum — backward
4
Montes exsultaverunt ut arietes, et colles sicut agni ovium.
The mountains leapt like rams, and the hills like lambs of the flock.
Word Notes:
- mons, montis m. — mountain
- exsulto, exsultare — to leap, rejoice
- aries, arietis m. — ram
- agnus, -i m. — lamb
5
Quid est tibi, mare, quod fugisti; et tu, Iordanis, quia conversus es retrorsum?
What is with you, O sea, that you fled; and you, O Jordan, that you turned back?
Word Notes:
- quid est tibi — what is the matter with you?
- quia — that, why
6
Montes, exsultastis sicut arietes, et colles sicut agni ovium?
O mountains, why did you leap like rams, and hills like lambs?
Word Notes:
- exsulto (perf.) exsultastis — you leapt
7
A facie Domini mota est terra, a facie Dei Iacob.
At the presence of the Lord the earth trembled, at the presence of the God of Jacob.
Word Notes:
- facies, -ei f. — face, presence
- moveo, movere — to move, shake
- terra, -ae f. — earth
8
Qui convertit petram in stagna aquarum, et rupem in fontes aquarum.
Who turned the rock into pools of water, and the stone into springs of water.
Word Notes:
- petra, -ae f. — rock
- stagnum, -i n. — pool
- fons, fontis m. — spring
9
Non nobis, Domine, non nobis; sed nomini tuo da gloriam.
Not to us, O Lord, not to us; but to your name give glory.
Word Notes:
- nobis — to us (dative)
- do, dare — to give
- gloria, -ae f. — glory
10
Super misericordia tua et veritate tua; nequando dicant gentes: Ubi est Deus eorum?
For the sake of your mercy and your truth; lest the nations say: Where is their God?
Word Notes:
- misericordia, -ae f. — mercy
- veritas, -atis f. — truth
- gens, gentis f. — nation
11
Deus autem noster in caelo; omnia quaecumque voluit, fecit.
But our God is in heaven; he has done whatever he willed.
Word Notes:
- caelum, -i n. — heaven
- volo, velle — to will
- facio, facere — to do
12
Simulacra gentium argentum et aurum, opera manuum hominum.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
Word Notes:
- simulacrum, -i n. — idol, image
- argentum, -i n. — silver
- aurum, -i n. — gold
13
Os habent, et non loquentur; oculos habent, et non videbunt.
They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see.
Word Notes:
- os, oris n. — mouth
- loquor, loqui — to speak
- video, videre — to see
14
Aures habent, et non audient; nares habent, et non odorabuntur.
They have ears, but do not hear; they have noses, but do not smell.
Word Notes:
- auris, auris f. — ear
- audio, audire — to hear
- odoror, odorari — to smell (deponent)
15
Manus habent, et non palpabunt; pedes habent, et non ambulabunt.
They have hands, but do not feel; they have feet, but do not walk.
Word Notes:
- palpo, palpare — to touch
- ambulo, ambulare — to walk
16
Non clamabunt in gutture suo; similes illis fiant qui faciunt ea.
They will not cry out with their throat; let those who make them become like them.
Word Notes:
- clamo, clamare — to cry out
- guttur, gutturis n. — throat
- similis, -e — like, similar
17
Et omnes qui confidunt in eis.
And all who trust in them.
Word Notes:
- confido, confidere — to trust
18
Domus Israel speravit in Domino; adiutor eorum et protector eorum est.
The house of Israel trusted in the Lord; he is their helper and protector.
Word Notes:
- spero, sperare — to hope, trust
- adiutor, -oris m. — helper
- protector, -oris m. — protector
19
Domus Aaron speravit in Domino; adiutor eorum et protector eorum est.
The house of Aaron trusted in the Lord; he is their helper and protector.
Word Notes:
- Aaron — priestly lineage
20
Qui timent Dominum speraverunt in Domino; adiutor eorum et protector eorum est.
Those who fear the Lord trusted in the Lord; he is their helper and protector.
Word Notes:
- timeo, timere — to fear, revere
21
Dominus memor fuit nostri; et benedixit nobis.
The Lord was mindful of us; and he blessed us.
Word Notes:
- memor, memoris — mindful
- benedico, benedicere — to bless
22
Benedixit domui Israel; benedixit domui Aaron.
He blessed the house of Israel; he blessed the house of Aaron.
Word Notes:
- benedixit — perfect of benedico
23
Benedixit omnibus qui timent Dominum, pusillis cum maioribus.
He blessed all who fear the Lord, the small together with the great.
Word Notes:
- pusillus, -a, -um — small, humble
- maior, maioris — greater
24
Adiiciat Dominus super vos, super vos et super filios vestros.
May the Lord increase you, you and your children.
Word Notes:
- adiicio, adiicere — to add, increase
- filius, -i m. — son, child
25
Benedicti vos a Domino, qui fecit caelum et terram.
Blessed are you by the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Word Notes:
- creo / facio — to make
- terra, -ae f. — earth
26
Caelum caeli Domino; terram autem dedit filiis hominum.
The highest heaven belongs to the Lord; but the earth he has given to the children of men.
Word Notes:
- filii hominum — sons of men, humankind
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES (10)
Identify tense, voice, mood, and principal parts:
- facta est
- vidit
- exsultaverunt
- convertit
- voluit
- fecit
- fiant
- speravit
- benedixit
- adiiciat
TRANSLATION EXERCISES (10)
Translate into Latin:
- When Israel went out of Egypt.
- The sea saw and fled.
- At the presence of the Lord the earth trembled.
- Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give glory.
- Our God is in heaven.
- The idols are the work of human hands.
- Those who fear the Lord trust in him.
- The Lord was mindful of us.
- He blessed the house of Israel.
- The earth he gave to humankind.
SUMMARY (≈100 words)
Psalm 113 recalls Israel’s foundational memory of liberation while expanding it into a sustained meditation on trust and false worship. The natural world responds to divine presence, while human-made idols are exposed as lifeless projections that render their makers spiritually inert. Against this, the psalm affirms a living God who acts freely, remembers his people, and blesses without distinction between great and small. Deliverance leads not to self-glorification but to humility: “not to us, but to your name.” The psalm thus links historical freedom with moral vigilance, warning that misplaced trust diminishes those who offer it.
REFLECTION QUESTION
Where in your own life might trust subtly drift from living reality toward comforting but powerless substitutes — and what would it mean to re-centre that trust?