Psalmus 29 (Vulgate numbering)
Summary
A thanksgiving for deliverance from danger.
The psalmist, once near death, praises God for raising him up.
He recalls that anger lasts but a moment, favour for a lifetime.
The psalm closes with renewed gratitude and joy: mourning is turned into dancing.
Verses, Translation, and Word Notes
1. Exaltabo te, Domine, quoniam suscepisti me: nec delectasti inimicos meos super me.
I will exalt you, O Lord, because you have taken me up, and you have not made my enemies rejoice over me.
- exaltabo — exalto, -are, -avi, -atum — I will exalt (fut. ind. act.)
- suscepisti — suscipio, -ere, suscepi, susceptum — you have taken up, received (perf. ind. act.)
- delectasti — delecto, -are, -avi, -atum — you have made glad (perf. ind. act.)
- inimicus, -i (m) — enemy
- super (+ acc.) — over
2. Domine Deus meus, clamavi ad te, et sanasti me.
O Lord my God, I cried to you, and you healed me.
- clamavi — clamo, -are, -avi, -atum — I cried out (perf. ind. act.)
- sanasti — sano, -are, -avi, -atum — you healed (perf. ind. act.)
3. Domine, eduxisti ab inferno animam meam: salvasti me a descendentibus in lacum.
O Lord, you brought out my soul from hell; you saved me from those going down into the pit.
- eduxisti — educo, -ere, eduxi, eductum — you led out (perf. ind. act.)
- salvasti — salvo, -are, -avi, -atum — you saved (perf. ind. act.)
- descendentibus — descendo, -ere, descendi, descensum — descending (dat./abl. pl. pres. part.)
- lacus, -us (m) — pit, hollow
4. Psallite Domino, sancti eius: et confitemini memoriae sanctitatis eius.
Sing psalms to the Lord, you His holy ones, and give thanks to the remembrance of His holiness.
- psallite — psallo, -ere, psalli — sing psalms (2 pl pres. imper.)
- sanctus, -a, -um — holy
- confitemini — confiteor, -eri, confessus sum — give thanks (2 pl pres. imper. deponent)
- memoria, -ae (f) — remembrance, memory
- sanctitas, -atis (f) — holiness
5. Quoniam ira in indignatione eius, et vita in voluntate eius.
For anger (is) in His indignation, but life in His favour.
- ira, -ae (f) — anger
- indignatio, -onis (f) — wrath
- voluntas, -atis (f) — will, favour
6. Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus: et ad matutinum laetitia.
At evening weeping will tarry; and at morning — rejoicing.
- demorabitur — demoror, -ari, -atus sum — it will stay, linger (fut. ind. deponent)
- fletus, -us (m) — weeping
- laetitia, -ae (f) — joy
7. Ego autem dixi in abundantia mea: non movebor in aeternum.
But I said in my prosperity: I shall not be moved forever.
- dixi — dico, -ere, dixi, dictum — I said (perf. ind. act.)
- movebor — moveo, -ere, movi, motum — I shall be moved (fut. ind. pass.)
8. Domine, in voluntate tua praestitisti decori meo virtutem.
O Lord, by your favour you gave strength to my beauty (splendour).
- praestitisti — praesto, -are, -stiti, -statum — you have bestowed (perf. ind. act.)
- decor, -oris (m) — beauty, honour
- virtus, -utis (f) — strength, power
9. Avertisti faciem tuam a me, et factus sum conturbatus.
You turned away your face from me, and I became troubled.
- avertisti — averto, -ere, averti, aversum — you turned away (perf. ind. act.)
- factus sum — facio, facere, feci, factum (passive perf. of fio) — I became (perf. ind. pass.)
- conturbo, -are, -avi, -atum — to trouble, disturb
10. Ad te, Domine, clamabo: et ad Deum meum deprecabor.
To you, O Lord, I will cry, and to my God I will make supplication.
- clamabo — clamo, -are, -avi, -atum — I will cry (fut. ind. act.)
- deprecabor — deprecor, -ari, -atus sum — I will entreat (fut. ind. deponent)
11. Quae utilitas in sanguine meo, dum descendo in corruptionem?
What profit is there in my blood, while I go down into corruption?
- utilitas, -atis (f) — use, advantage
- sanguis, -inis (m) — blood
- descendo, -ere, descendi, descensum — to go down (pres. ind. act.)
- corruptio, -onis (f) — decay, corruption
12. Numquid confitebitur tibi pulvis, aut annuntiabit veritatem tuam?
Shall the dust give thanks to you, or declare your truth?
- confitebitur — confiteor, -eri, confessus sum — will it give thanks (fut. ind. deponent)
- pulvis, -eris (m) — dust
- annuntiabit — annuntio, -are, -avi, -atum — will it proclaim (fut. ind. act.)
- veritas, -atis (f) — truth
13. Audivit Dominus, et misertus est mei: Dominus factus est adiutor meus.
The Lord has heard and has had mercy on me; the Lord has become my helper.
- audivit — audio, -ire, -ivi, -itum — heard (perf. ind. act.)
- misertus est — misereor, -eri, -itus sum — had mercy (perf. ind. deponent)
- factus est — fio, fieri, factus sum — became (perf. ind. pass. with active sense)
- adiutor, -oris (m) — helper
14. Convertisti planctum meum in gaudium mihi: conscidisti saccum meum, et circumdedisti me laetitia.
You have turned my mourning into joy for me; you have torn my sackcloth, and have surrounded me with gladness.
- convertisti — converto, -ere, converti, conversum — you turned (perf. ind. act.)
- planctus, -us (m) — mourning, lamentation
- gaudium, -i (n) — joy
- conscidisti — conscindo, -ere, conscidi, conscissum — you tore (perf. ind. act.)
- saccus, -i (m) — sackcloth
- circumdedisti — circumdo, -are, -dedi, -datum — you surrounded (perf. ind. act.)
- laetitia, -ae (f) — gladness
15. Ut cantet tibi gloria mea, et non compungar: Domine Deus meus, in aeternum confitebor tibi.
That my glory may sing to you and not be silent; O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
- cantet — canto, -are, -avi, -atum — may sing (pres. subj. act.)
- gloria, -ae (f) — glory, honour
- compungar — compungo, -ere, compunxi, compunctum — I may be pierced, silent (pres. subj. pass.)
- confitebor — confiteor, -eri, confessus sum — I will give thanks (fut. ind. deponent)
Study Exercise
Translate into Latin:
- I cried to you, and you healed me.
- The Lord turned my mourning into joy.
- Sing psalms to the Lord, His holy ones.
- The Lord has heard and had mercy on me.
- I will give thanks to the Lord forever.
Answers:
- Clamavi ad te, et sanasti me.
- Convertit Dominus planctum meum in gaudium.
- Psallite Domino, sancti eius.
- Audivit Dominus, et misertus est mei.
- In aeternum confitebor Domino.