ORIENTATION NOTE (IMPORTANT)
- Psalm 116 (Vulgate)
- Corresponds to Psalm 118 (Hebrew / English)
- Incipit: Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus
This is a major liturgical psalm, frequently used in Jewish Passover and Christian Easter contexts.
- Total length: 29 verses
— Psalm 118 (Hebrew)
Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus
By GRAHAM JOHN
A great hymn of thanksgiving celebrating deliverance, trust under threat, and the enduring mercy of God, culminating in a vision of rejected weakness becoming the foundation of renewal.
29 verses total
VERSUS 1–29 (Latin + Literal English + Word Notes)
1
Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus, quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.
Word Notes:
- confiteor, confiteri — to give thanks, praise
- bonus, -a, -um — good
- misericordia, -ae f. — mercy
- in saeculum — forever
2
Dicat nunc Israel quoniam bonus, quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius.
Let Israel now say: He is good; his mercy endures forever.
Word Notes:
- dico, dicere — to say
- nunc — now
3
Dicat nunc domus Aaron quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius.
Let the house of Aaron now say: His mercy endures forever.
Word Notes:
- domus Aaron — priestly house
4
Dicant nunc qui timent Dominum quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius.
Let those who fear the Lord now say: His mercy endures forever.
Word Notes:
- timeo, timere — to fear, revere
5
De tribulatione invocavi Dominum, et exaudivit me in latitudine.
Out of distress I called upon the Lord, and he answered me with freedom.
Word Notes:
- tribulatio, -onis f. — distress
- invoco, invocare — to call upon
- latitudo, -inis f. — broad space, freedom
6
Dominus mihi adiutor; non timebo quid faciat mihi homo.
The Lord is my helper; I will not fear what a human can do to me.
Word Notes:
- adiutor, -oris m. — helper
- homo, hominis m. — human being
7
Dominus mihi adiutor, et ego despiciam inimicos meos.
The Lord is my helper, and I shall look upon my enemies.
Word Notes:
- despicio, despicere — to look down upon
- inimicus, -i m. — enemy
8
Bonum est confidere in Domino, quam confidere in homine.
It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in man.
Word Notes:
- confido, confidere — to trust
9
Bonum est sperare in Domino, quam sperare in principibus.
It is better to hope in the Lord than to hope in princes.
Word Notes:
- princeps, principis m. — ruler
10
Omnes gentes circumdederunt me, et in nomine Domini quia ultus sum in eos.
All nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them off.
Word Notes:
- circumdo, circumdare — to surround
- ulciscor, ulcisci — to take vengeance, prevail
11
Circumdantes circumdederunt me, et in nomine Domini quia ultus sum in eos.
Surrounding, they surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I prevailed.
Word Notes:
- emphatic repetition
12
Circumdederunt me sicut apes; et exarserunt sicut ignis in spinis; et in nomine Domini quia ultus sum in eos.
They surrounded me like bees; they flared up like fire in thorns; but in the name of the Lord I prevailed.
Word Notes:
- apis, apis f. — bee
- exardesco — to blaze
- spina, -ae f. — thorn
13
Impulsus eversus sum ut caderem, et Dominus suscepit me.
I was pushed violently so that I was falling, but the Lord supported me.
Word Notes:
- impello, impellere — to drive
- suscipio, suscipere — to support
14
Fortitudo mea et laus mea Dominus, et factus est mihi in salutem.
The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.
Word Notes:
- fortitudo, -inis f. — strength
- salus, salutis f. — salvation, deliverance
15
Vox exsultationis et salutis in tabernaculis iustorum.
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous.
Word Notes:
- exsultatio, -onis f. — rejoicing
- tabernaculum, -i n. — tent, dwelling
16
Dextera Domini fecit virtutem; dextera Domini exaltavit me.
The right hand of the Lord has done mightily; the right hand of the Lord has exalted me.
Word Notes:
- dextera, -ae f. — right hand
- virtus, -utis f. — power
17
Non moriar, sed vivam, et narrabo opera Domini.
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.
Word Notes:
- narro, narrare — to proclaim
18
Castigans castigavit me Dominus, et morti non tradidit me.
The Lord disciplined me severely, but did not hand me over to death.
Word Notes:
- castigo, castigare — to discipline
- trado, tradere — to hand over
19
Aperite mihi portas iustitiae; ingressus in eas confitebor Domino.
Open to me the gates of justice; entering them I will give thanks to the Lord.
Word Notes:
- porta, -ae f. — gate
- iustitia, -ae f. — justice
20
Haec porta Domini; iusti intrabunt in eam.
This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
21
Confitebor tibi quoniam exaudisti me, et factus es mihi in salutem.
I will give thanks to you, for you have heard me and become my salvation.
22
Lapidem quem reprobaverunt aedificantes, hic factus est in caput anguli.
The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
Word Notes:
- reprobo, reprobare — to reject
- caput anguli — cornerstone
23
A Domino factum est istud, et est mirabile in oculis nostris.
This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
24
Haec est dies quam fecit Dominus; exsultemus et laetemur in ea.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25
O Domine, salvum me fac; o Domine, bene prosperare.
O Lord, save me; O Lord, grant success.
26
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini; benediximus vobis de domo Domini.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord.
27
Deus Dominus, et illuxit nobis; constituite diem sollemnem in condensis usque ad cornu altaris.
The Lord is God and has given us light; bind the festal offering with cords up to the horns of the altar.
28
Deus meus es tu, et confitebor tibi; Deus meus es tu, et exaltabo te.
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29
Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus, quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures forever.
MORPHOLOGY EXERCISES (10)
- confitemini
- exaudivit
- circumdederunt
- ultus sum
- suscepit
- factus est
- castigavit
- aperite
- reprobaverunt
- illuxit
TRANSLATION EXERCISES (10)
- Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
- Out of distress I called upon the Lord.
- It is better to trust in the Lord than in man.
- All nations surrounded me.
- The Lord supported me.
- I shall not die, but live.
- Open to me the gates of justice.
- The stone the builders rejected.
- This is the day the Lord has made.
- His mercy endures forever.
SUMMARY (≈100 words)
Psalm 116 is a mature hymn of survival rather than triumph. Deliverance emerges through pressure, discipline, and near-collapse, not escape from conflict. Trust is refined: human power is exposed as fragile, while divine support proves steady. The psalm’s centre of gravity lies in reversal — rejection becoming foundation, confinement opening into freedom, discipline yielding life. Gratitude is communal and enacted, not merely felt. By framing salvation as endurance shaped by mercy, the psalm offers a realistic spirituality in which confidence grows not from dominance but from having been upheld when collapse seemed inevitable.
REFLECTION QUESTION
Which form of “deliverance” in this psalm — endurance, correction, reversal, or renewed gratitude — most closely mirrors the way resilience has formed in your own life?