Psalm 26 (Vulgate numbering).
Summary
A confident declaration of trust in God.
The psalmist faces fear, danger, and false witnesses, yet clings to faith.
He asks to dwell in God’s house, to behold His beauty, and to be taught His way.
The tone moves from courage to prayer, ending with patient hope: “Expecta Dominum.”
Verses, Translation, and Word Notes
1. Dominus illuminatio mea, et salus mea: quem timebo?
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
- illuminatio, -onis (f) — light, illumination
- salus, salutis (f) — safety, deliverance, salvation
- timebo — timeo, timere, timui — to fear
2. Dominus protector vitae meae, a quo trepidabo?
The Lord is the defender of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
- protector, -oris (m) — protector, defender
- vita, -ae (f) — life
- trepidabo — trepido, trepidare, trepidavi, trepidatum — to tremble, be afraid
3. Dum appropiant super me nocentes, ut edant carnes meas,
When the wicked advance against me to devour my flesh,
- appropiant — appropinquo, -are, -avi, -atum — to draw near
- nocentes, -ium (m/f pl) — the harmful, evildoers
- edant — edo, edere, edi, esum — to eat, devour
- caro, carnis (f) — flesh
4. Qui tribulant me et inimici mei, ipsi infirmati sunt et ceciderunt.
Those who oppress me and my enemies — they stumbled and fell.
- tribulant — tribulo, -are — to trouble, oppress
- inimicus, -i (m) — enemy
- infirmati sunt — infirmo, -are, -avi, -atum — to weaken
- ceciderunt — cado, cadere, cecidi, casum — to fall
5. Si consistant adversum me castra, non timebit cor meum:
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.
- consistant — consisto, -ere, constiti — to stand firm, encamp
- castra, -orum (n pl) — camp, army
- cor, cordis (n) — heart
6. Si exsurgat adversum me praelium, in hoc ego sperabo.
Though war rise up against me, in this I will trust.
- exsurgat — exsurgo, -ere, exsurrexi, exsurrectum — to rise up
- praelium, -i (n) — battle, fight
- sperabo — spero, -are, -avi, -atum — to hope, trust
7. Unam petii a Domino, hanc requiram:
One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I will seek:
- petii — peto, petere, petivi, petitum — to ask, seek
- requiram — requiro, -ere, requisivi, requisitum — to seek after
8. Ut inhabitem in domo Domini omnibus diebus vitae meae,
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
- inhabitem — inhabito, -are, -avi, -atum — to dwell, live
- domus, -us (f) — house
- vita, -ae (f) — life
9. Ut videam voluntatem Domini, et visitem templum eius.
To behold the beauty of the Lord and visit His temple.
- videam — video, videre, vidi, visum — to see
- templum, -i (n) — temple
10. Quoniam abscondit me in tabernaculo suo: in die malorum protexit me.
For He has hidden me in His tent; in the day of trouble He protected me.
- abscondit — abscondo, -ere, abscondi, absconditum — to hide
- tabernaculum, -i (n) — tent, dwelling
- protegit — protego, -ere, protexi, protectum — to protect
11. In petra exaltavit me.
He set me high upon a rock.
- petra, -ae (f) — rock
- exaltavit — exalto, -are, -avi, -atum — to lift up, raise
12. Et nunc exaltavit caput meum super inimicos meos.
And now my head is lifted up above my enemies.
- caput, capitis (n) — head
- super (+ acc.) — over, above
13. Circuivi, et immolavi in tabernaculo eius hostiam vociferationis:
I went around and offered in His tent a sacrifice of rejoicing.
- circuivi — circum-eo, -ire, -ii, -itum — to go around
- immolavi — immolo, -are, -avi, -atum — to offer sacrifice
- hostia, -ae (f) — victim, sacrifice
- vociferatio, -onis (f) — loud cry, shout
14. Cantabo, et psalmum dicam Domino.
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
- cantabo — canto, -are, -avi, -atum — to sing
- psalmum dicam — dico, dicere, dixi, dictum — to say, utter
15. Exaudi, Domine, vocem meam, qua clamavi ad te:
Hear, O Lord, my voice when I cry to you.
- exaudi — exaudio, -ire, -ivi, -itum — to hear favourably
- clamo, -are, -avi, -atum — to cry, call out
- vox, vocis (f) — voice
16. Tibi dixit cor meum: exquisivit te facies mea.
My heart has said to You: my face has sought You.
- cor, cordis (n) — heart
- exquisivit — exquiro, -ere, exquisivi, exquisitum — to seek out
- facies, -ei (f) — face
17. Ne avertas faciem tuam a me, neque declines in ira a servo tuo.
Do not hide Your face from me, nor turn away in anger from Your servant.
- avertas — averto, -ere, averti, aversum — to turn away
- servo, -i (m) — servant
18. Adjutor meus esto; ne derelinquas me neque despicias me, Deus salutaris meus.
Be my helper; do not forsake or despise me, O God my saviour.
- adjutor, -oris (m) — helper
- derelinquas — derelinquo, -ere, dereliqui, derelictum — to abandon
- despicias — despicio, -ere, despexi, despectum — to despise
19. Quoniam pater meus et mater mea dereliquerunt me: Dominus autem assumpsit me.
For my father and mother have forsaken me, but the Lord has taken me up.
- pater, patris (m) — father
- mater, matris (f) — mother
- assumpsit — assumo, -ere, assumpsi, assumptum — to take up, receive
20. Legem pone mihi, Domine, in via tua, et dirige me in semitam rectam.
Teach me, Lord, your way; lead me in a straight path.
- lex, legis (f) — law, rule
- pono, ponere, posui, positum — to place, establish
- dirige — dirigo, -ere, direxi, directum — to direct
- semitam, -ae (f) — path, track
21. Ne tradideris me in animas tribulantium me;
Do not hand me over to the will of my enemies;
- tradideris — trado, -ere, tradidi, traditum — to hand over
- tribulantium — tribulo, -are — those who trouble, harass
22. Quoniam insurrexerunt in me testes iniqui, et mentita est iniquitas sibi.
For false witnesses have risen against me, and injustice has lied to itself.
- testis, -is (m/f) — witness
- iniquitas, -atis (f) — injustice, wickedness
- mentita est — mentior, mentiri, mentitus sum — to lie, deceive
23. Credo videre bona Domini in terra viventium.
I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
- credo, credere, credidi, creditum — to believe
- video, videre, vidi, visum — to see
- terra, -ae (f) — earth, land
- viventes, -ium (m/f pl) — the living
24. Expecta Dominum, viriliter age; et confortetur cor tuum, et sustine Dominum.
Wait for the Lord, be strong; let your heart take courage and wait for the Lord.
- expecta — expecto, -are, -avi, -atum — to wait for
- viriliter — manfully, bravely
- confortetur — conforto, -are, -avi, -atum — to strengthen
- sustine — sustineo, -ere, sustinui, sustentum — to endure, wait
Study Exercise
Translate into Latin:
- The Lord is my light and my salvation.
- My enemies fell.
- I will sing to the Lord.
- My father and mother left me, but the Lord received me.
- Wait for the Lord and be strong.
Answers:
- Dominus illuminatio mea et salus mea.
- Inimici mei ceciderunt.
- Cantabo Domino.
- Pater meus et mater mea dereliquerunt me, Dominus autem assumpsit me.
- Expecta Dominum, viriliter age.