Psalm 21 (Hebrew numbering) corresponds to Psalm 20 in the Latin Vulgate.
This psalm is a thanksgiving for victory: the king rejoices in divine strength and attributes his triumph to God’s power and favour.
(= Psalm 21 in Hebrew numbering)
Domine, in virtute tua lætabitur rex
1. Domine, in virtute tua lætabitur rex: et super salutare tuum exsultabit vehementer.
O Lord, in your strength the king shall rejoice: and in your salvation he shall exult exceedingly.
Word Notes
- virtus, -ūtis (f.) – strength, power, virtue
- laetor, -ārī, -ātus sum – to rejoice
- rēx, rēgis (m.) – king
- super (+ abl.) – because of, on account of
- salutāre, -is (n.) – salvation, deliverance
- exsultō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum – to exult, leap for joy
- vehementer – exceedingly, greatly
2. Desiderium cordis ejus tribuisti ei: et voluntate labiorum ejus non fraudasti eum.
You have granted him the desire of his heart, and have not withheld the request of his lips.
Word Notes
- desiderium, -ī (n.) – desire, longing
- cor, cordis (n.) – heart
- tribuō, -ere, -uī, -ūtum – to grant, bestow
- voluntas, -ātis (f.) – wish, desire, will
- labium, -ī (n.) – lip
- fraudō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum – to deprive, withhold
3. Quoniam prævenisti eum in benedictionibus dulcedinis: posuisti in capite ejus coronam de lapide pretioso.
For you have gone before him with blessings of sweetness: you have set upon his head a crown of precious stone.
Word Notes
- praeveniō, -īre, -vēnī, -ventum – to go before, anticipate
- benedictiō, -ōnis (f.) – blessing
- dulcedo, -inis (f.) – sweetness, delight
- pōnō, -ere, posuī, positum – to place, set
- caput, -itis (n.) – head
- corōna, -ae (f.) – crown
- lapis, -idis (m.) – stone
- pretiosus, -a, -um – precious, costly
4. Vitam petiit a te: et tribuisti ei longitudinem dierum in sæculum, et in sæculum sæculi.
He asked life of you, and you gave him length of days, forever and ever.
Word Notes
- vita, -ae (f.) – life
- petō, -ere, petīvī, petītum – to ask, seek
- tribuō, -ere, -uī, -ūtum – to grant, bestow
- longitudo, -inis (f.) – length
- diēs, -ēī (f.) – day
- in sæculum sæculi – unto ages of ages, forever
5. Magna est gloria ejus in salutari tuo: gloriam et magnum decorem impones super eum.
Great is his glory in your salvation: you will lay upon him glory and great beauty.
Word Notes
- magnus, -a, -um – great
- gloria, -ae (f.) – glory, honour
- salutare, -is (n.) – salvation
- imponō, -ere, -posuī, -positum – to place upon, bestow
- decor, -ōris (m.) – beauty, splendour
6. Quoniam dabis eum in benedictionem in sæculum sæculi: lætificabis eum in gaudio cum vultu tuo.
For you will make him a blessing forever: you will fill him with joy in your presence.
Word Notes
- dō, dare, dedī, datum – to give, make
- benedictio, -ōnis (f.) – blessing
- gaudium, -ī (n.) – joy
- vultus, -ūs (m.) – face, countenance
7. Quoniam rex sperat in Domino: et in misericordia Altissimi non commovebitur.
For the king hopes in the Lord: and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.
Word Notes
- spērō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum – to hope
- misericordia, -ae (f.) – mercy, compassion
- Altissimus, -a, -um – the Most High (as a title of God)
- commoveō, -ēre, -mōvī, -mōtum – to shake, move, disturb
8. Inveniatur manus tua omnibus inimicis tuis: dextera tua inveniat omnes qui te oderunt.
Let your hand be found upon all your enemies: let your right hand find out all who hate you.
Word Notes
- inveniō, -īre, -vēnī, -ventum – to find, come upon
- manus, -ūs (f.) – hand
- inimicus, -ī (m.) – enemy
- dextera, -ae (f.) – right hand
- odī, odisse – to hate
9. Pones eos ut clibanum ignis in tempore vultus tui:
You will make them as a fiery oven in the time of your presence.
Word Notes
- ponō, -ere, posuī, positum – to make, set
- clibanus, -ī (m.) – oven, furnace
- ignis, -is (m.) – fire
- tempus, -oris (n.) – time, season
- vultus, -ūs (m.) – face, presence
10. Dominus in ira sua conturbabit eos, et devorabit eos ignis.
The Lord in his anger will trouble them, and fire shall devour them.
Word Notes
- ira, -ae (f.) – anger, wrath
- conturbō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum – to trouble, confound
- devorō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum – to devour, consume
11. Fructum eorum de terra perdes, et semen eorum de filiis hominum.
You shall destroy their fruit from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
Word Notes
- fructus, -ūs (m.) – fruit, offspring
- terra, -ae (f.) – earth, land
- perdō, -ere, -didī, -ditum – to destroy
- sēmen, -inis (n.) – seed, offspring
- fīlius, -ī (m.) – son, child
- homo, -inis (m.) – man, human being
12. Quoniam declinaverunt in te mala: cogitaverunt consilia quæ non potuerunt stabilire.
For they intended evils against you: they devised plans that they could not establish.
Word Notes
- dēclinō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum – to turn aside, aim
- malum, -ī (n.) – evil
- cōgitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum – to think, devise
- consilium, -ī (n.) – plan, counsel
- stabiliō, -īre, -īvī, -ītum – to establish, make firm
13. Quoniam pones eos dorsum: in reliquiis tuis præparabis vultum eorum.
For you shall make them turn their back: you will prepare their face in your remnants.
Word Notes
- dorsum, -ī (n.) – back
- reliquiae, -ārum (f. pl.) – remnants, what remains
- praeparō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum – to prepare
- vultus, -ūs (m.) – face
(The sense: “You will turn them to flight and confront them with your power.”)
14. Exaltare, Domine, in virtute tua: cantabimus et psallemus virtutes tuas.
Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength: we will sing and praise your mighty deeds.
Word Notes
- exaltō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum – to lift up, exalt
- cantō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum – to sing
- psallō, -ere, psallī – to sing psalms, make melody
- virtūs, -ūtis (f.) – power, virtue, mighty act