Summary
A psalm of trust and deliverance.
The psalmist entrusts his soul to God amid affliction, persecution, and fear.
He moves between pleading and confidence, confessing: “In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum” — words later echoed by Christ on the Cross.
The closing verses turn to gratitude: “Diligite Dominum omnes sancti eius.”
Verses, Translation, and Word Notes
1. In te, Domine, speravi, non confundar in aeternum: in iustitia tua libera me.
In you, O Lord, I have hoped; may I not be confounded forever: in your justice deliver me.
- speravi — spero, -are, -avi, -atum — I have hoped (perf. ind. act.)
- confundar — confundo, -ere, confudi, confusum — I may be confounded (pres. subj. pass.)
- libera — libero, -are, -avi, -atum — deliver (2 sg pres. imper.)
- iustitia, -ae (f) — justice, righteousness
2. Inclina ad me aurem tuam, accelera ut eruas me.
Incline your ear to me; hasten that you may deliver me.
- inclina — inclino, -are, -avi, -atum — bend down (imper.)
- aurem, -is (f) — ear (acc. sg.)
- accelera — accelero, -are, -avi, -atum — hasten (imper.)
- eruas — eruo, -ere, erui, erutum — you may deliver (pres. subj. act.)
3. Esto mihi in Deum protectorem, et in domum refugii: ut salvum me facias.
Be to me for a God of protection and a house of refuge, that you may make me safe.
- esto — sum, esse, fui — be (2 sg fut. imper.)
- protector, -oris (m) — protector
- refugium, -i (n) — refuge
- salvum facias — salvo, -are, -avi, -atum — you may make safe (pres. subj. act.)
4. Quoniam fortitudo mea, et refugium meum es tu: et propter nomen tuum deduces me, et enutries me.
For you are my strength and my refuge; and for your name’s sake you will lead me and nourish me.
- fortitudo, -inis (f) — strength
- deduces — deduco, -ere, deduxi, deductum — you will lead (fut. ind. act.)
- enutries — enutrio, -ire, -ivi, -itum — you will nourish (fut. ind. act.)
5. Educes me de laqueo hoc quem absconderunt mihi: quoniam tu es protector meus.
You will bring me out from this snare which they have hidden for me, for you are my protector.
- educes — educo, -ere, eduxi, eductum — you will lead out (fut. ind. act.)
- laqueus, -i (m) — snare, trap
- absconderunt — abscondo, -ere, abscondi, absconditum — they hid (perf. ind. act.)
6. In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum: redemisti me, Domine Deus veritatis.
Into your hands I commend my spirit; you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
- commendo — commendo, -are, -avi, -atum — I entrust, commit (pres. ind. act.)
- spiritus, -us (m) — spirit
- redemisti — redimo, -ere, redemi, redemptum — you have redeemed (perf. ind. act.)
- veritas, -atis (f) — truth
7. Odisti observantes vanitates supervacuas: ego autem in Domino speravi.
You hate those who observe vain vanities; but I have hoped in the Lord.
- odisti — odi, odisse (defective verb) — you hate (perf. with present sense)
- observo, -are, -avi, -atum — to regard, observe
- vanitas, -atis (f) — emptiness, vanity
- supervacua, -orum (n pl) — useless things
8. Exsultabo et laetabor in misericordia tua: quoniam respexisti humilitatem meam, salvasti de necessitatibus animam meam.
I shall rejoice and be glad in your mercy, because you have regarded my lowliness; you have saved my soul from necessities.
- exsultabo — exsulto, -are, -avi, -atum — I will rejoice (fut. ind. act.)
- laetabor — laetor, -ari, -atus sum — I will be glad (fut. ind. deponent)
- respexisti — respicio, -ere, respexi, respectum — you have looked upon (perf. ind. act.)
- salvasti — salvo, -are, -avi, -atum — you saved (perf. ind. act.)
- necessitas, -atis (f) — distress, need
9. Et non conclusisti me in manibus inimici: statuisti in loco spatioso pedes meos.
And you did not shut me into the hands of the enemy; you set my feet in a broad place.
- conclusisti — concludo, -ere, conclusi, conclusum — you shut up (perf. ind. act.)
- inimicus, -i (m) — enemy
- statuisti — statuo, -ere, statui, statutum — you placed (perf. ind. act.)
- spatiosus, -a, -um — broad, open
10. Miserere mei, Domine, quoniam tribulor: conturbatus est in ira oculus meus, anima mea, et venter meus.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am afflicted; my eye is troubled with anger, my soul also, and my belly.
- miserere — misereor, -eri, -itus sum — have mercy (2 sg pres. imper. deponent)
- tribulor — tribulo, -are — I am afflicted (pres. ind. pass.)
- conturbatus est — conturbo, -are, -avi, -atum — has been troubled (perf. ind. pass.)
- venter, ventris (m) — belly
11. Quoniam defecit in dolore vita mea, et anni mei in gemitibus.
For my life has failed in pain, and my years in groanings.
- defecit — deficio, -ere, defeci, defectum — has failed (perf. ind. act.)
- dolor, -oris (m) — pain
- gemitus, -us (m) — groaning
12. Infirmata est in paupertate virtus mea, et ossa mea conturbata sunt.
My strength has been weakened in poverty, and my bones have been troubled.
- infirmata est — infirmo, -are, -avi, -atum — has been weakened (perf. ind. pass.)
- paupertas, -atis (f) — poverty
- os, ossis (n) — bone
13. Super omnes inimicos meos factus sum opprobrium, et vicinis meis valde; et timor notis meis.
Among all my enemies I have become a reproach, and exceedingly to my neighbours, and a fear to my acquaintances.
- factus sum — fio, fieri, factus sum — I became (perf. ind. pass.)
- opprobrium, -i (n) — reproach
- vicinus, -i (m) — neighbour
- notus, -i (m) — acquaintance
14. Qui videbant me foras fugerunt a me.
They who saw me outside fled from me.
- videbant — video, -ere, vidi, visum — they saw (impf. ind. act.)
- fugerunt — fugio, -ere, fugi — they fled (perf. ind. act.)
15. Oblivioni datus sum tamquam mortuus a corde: factus sum tamquam vas perditum.
I am given to forgetfulness as one dead from the heart; I have become as a lost vessel.
- datus sum — do, dare, dedi, datum — I have been given (perf. ind. pass.)
- oblivio, -onis (f) — forgetfulness
- vas, vasis (n) — vessel
- perditus, -a, -um — lost, ruined
16. Quoniam audivi vituperationem multorum inhabitantium in circuitu.
For I have heard the reproach of many dwelling round about.
- audivi — audio, -ire, -ivi, -itum — I heard (perf. ind. act.)
- vituperatio, -onis (f) — reproach, blame
- inhabitantium — inhabito, -are — of those dwelling (gen. pl. pres. part.)
17. Dum convenirent simul adversum me, accipere animam meam consiliati sunt.
While they gathered together against me, they took counsel to take away my life.
- convenirent — convenio, -ire, -i, -ventum — they came together (impf. subj. act.)
- consiliati sunt — consilior, -ari, -atus sum — they took counsel (perf. ind. deponent)
- accipere — accipio, -ere, accepi, acceptum — to take (pres. inf. act.)
18. Ego autem in te speravi, Domine: dixi, Deus meus es tu.
But I have hoped in you, O Lord; I said, “You are my God.”
- speravi — spero, -are, -avi, -atum — I have hoped (perf. ind. act.)
- dixi — dico, -ere, dixi, dictum — I said (perf. ind. act.)
19. In manibus tuis sortes meae: erue me de manibus inimicorum meorum, et a persequentibus me.
In your hands are my lots (my destiny); deliver me from the hands of my enemies and from those persecuting me.
- sortes, -ium (f pl) — lots, destinies
- erue — eruo, -ere, erui, erutum — deliver (2 sg pres. imper.)
- persequor, -i, -secutus sum — to pursue, persecute
20. Illustra faciem tuam super servum tuum: salvum me fac in misericordia tua.
Make your face shine upon your servant; make me safe in your mercy.
- illustra — illustro, -are, -avi, -atum — enlighten (imper.)
- servus, -i (m) — servant
- salvum fac — salvo, -are — save (imper.)
21. Domine, non confundar, quoniam invocavi te.
O Lord, let me not be confounded, for I have called upon you.
- confundar — confundo, -ere, confudi, confusum — I may be confounded (pres. subj. pass.)
- invocavi — invoco, -are, -avi, -atum — I have called upon (perf. ind. act.)
(Psalm continues beyond v.21, but for manageable study, verses 1–21 suffice as Part I. Part II will complete vv.22–25.)
Study Exercise
Translate into Latin:
- Into your hands I commend my spirit.
- You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.
- Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am afflicted.
- You have set my feet in a broad place.
- Deliver me from the hands of my enemies.
Answers:
- In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum.
- Redemisti me, Domine Deus veritatis.
- Miserere mei, Domine, quoniam tribulor.
- Statuisti in loco spatioso pedes meos.
- Erue me de manibus inimicorum meorum.