Summary
A psalm of confession and forgiveness.
The psalmist declares blessed those whose sins are forgiven.
He recalls the heaviness of unconfessed guilt and the relief of repentance, then exhorts all the faithful to trust in God, who surrounds them with mercy.
The closing verses contrast the pain of stubbornness with the joy of obedience and uprightness of heart.
Verses, Translation, and Word Notes
1. Beati quorum remissae sunt iniquitates, et quorum tecta sunt peccata.
Blessed are they whose iniquities have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered.
- beatus, -a, -um — blessed, happy
- remissae sunt — remitto, -ere, remisi, remissum — have been forgiven (perf. ind. pass.)
- iniquitas, -atis (f) — iniquity, guilt
- tecta sunt — tego, -ere, texi, tectum — have been covered (perf. ind. pass.)
- peccatum, -i (n) — sin
2. Beatus vir cui non imputavit Dominus peccatum, nec est in spiritu eius dolus.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord has not imputed sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
- imputavit — imputo, -are, -avi, -atum — has reckoned, charged (perf. ind. act.)
- spiritus, -us (m) — spirit
- dolus, -i (m) — deceit, guile
3. Quoniam tacui, inveteraverunt ossa mea, dum clamarem tota die.
For while I kept silence, my bones grew old, as I cried out all the day long.
- tacui — taceo, -ere, tacui, tacitum — I kept silent (perf. ind. act.)
- inveteraverunt — invetero, -are, -avi, -atum — they became old, decayed (perf. ind. act.)
- ossa, -orum (n pl) — bones
- clamarem — clamo, -are, -avi, -atum — I was crying (impf. subj. act.)
4. Quoniam die ac nocte gravata est super me manus tua: conversus sum in aerumna mea, dum configitur spina.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; I was turned in my affliction, while the thorn was fastened.
- gravata est — gravo, -are, -avi, -atum — was weighed down (perf. ind. pass.)
- manus, -us (f) — hand
- conversus sum — converto, -ere, converti, conversum — I was turned (perf. ind. pass.)
- aerumna, -ae (f) — affliction, distress
- configitur — configo, -ere, confixi, confixum — is fixed, fastened (pres. ind. pass.)
- spina, -ae (f) — thorn
5. Delictum meum cognitum tibi feci, et iniustitiam meam non abscondi.
My offence I made known to you, and my injustice I did not hide.
- cognitum feci — cognosco, -ere, cognovi, cognitum — I made known (perf. ind. act. with causative sense)
- iniustitia, -ae (f) — injustice, wrongdoing
- abscondi — abscondo, -ere, abscondi, absconditum — I hid (perf. ind. act.)
6. Dixi: confitebor adversum me iniustitiam meam Domino: et tu remisisti impietatem peccati mei.
I said, I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord; and you forgave the impiety of my sin.
- dixi — dico, -ere, dixi, dictum — I said (perf. ind. act.)
- confitebor — confiteor, -eri, confessus sum — I will confess (fut. ind. deponent)
- remisisti — remitto, -ere, remisi, remissum — you forgave (perf. ind. act.)
- impietas, -atis (f) — ungodliness, impiety
7. Pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus, in tempore opportuno.
For this cause every holy one shall pray to you in a time of favour.
- orabit — oro, -are, -avi, -atum — will pray (fut. ind. act.)
- sanctus, -i (m) — holy one
- tempus, temporis (n) — time
- opportunus, -a, -um — favourable
8. Verumtamen in diluvio aquarum multarum ad eum non approximabunt.
Nevertheless, in the flood of many waters they shall not come near to him.
- diluvium, -i (n) — flood, deluge
- aqua, -ae (f) — water
- approximabunt — appropinquo, -are, -avi, -atum — they will approach (fut. ind. act.)
9. Tu es refugium meum a tribulatione quae circumdedit me: exsultatio mea, erue me a circumdantibus me.
You are my refuge from the trouble which has surrounded me; my exultation — deliver me from those who encircle me.
- refugium, -i (n) — refuge
- tribulatio, -onis (f) — distress
- circumdedit — circumdo, -are, -dedi, -datum — has surrounded (perf. ind. act.)
- erue — eruo, -ere, erui, erutum — deliver (2 sg pres. imper.)
- circumdantibus — circumdo — those surrounding (dat./abl. pl. pres. part.)
10. Intellectum tibi dabo, et instruam te in via hac qua gradieris: firmabo super te oculos meos.
I will give you understanding and I will instruct you in this way in which you shall go; I will fix my eyes upon you.
- intellectum dabo — do, dare, dedi, datum — I will give (fut. ind. act.)
- instruam — instruo, -ere, instruxi, instructum — I will instruct (fut. ind. act.)
- gradieris — gradior, -i, gressus sum — you shall go, walk (fut. ind. deponent)
- firmabo — firmo, -are, -avi, -atum — I will make firm, fix (fut. ind. act.)
11. Nolite fieri sicut equus et mulus, quibus non est intellectus.
Do not be made like the horse and the mule, which have no understanding.
- nolite fieri — fio, fieri, factus sum — do not become (2 pl pres. imper. pass.)
- equus, -i (m) — horse
- mulus, -i (m) — mule
- intellectus, -us (m) — understanding
12. In camo et freno maxillas eorum constringe, qui non approximant ad te.
With bit and bridle bind their jaws — those who do not approach you.
- cammus, -i (m) — bit
- frenum, -i (n) — bridle
- maxilla, -ae (f) — jaw
- constringe — constringo, -ere, constrinxi, constrictum — bind (imper.)
13. Multa flagella peccatoris; sperantem autem in Domino misericordia circumdabit.
Many are the scourges of the sinner; but him who hopes in the Lord mercy shall surround.
- flagellum, -i (n) — whip, scourge
- peccator, -oris (m) — sinner
- sperantem — spero, -are, -avi, -atum — hoping (acc. sg. part.)
- circumdabit — circumdo, -are, -dedi, -datum — will surround (fut. ind. act.)
14. Laetamini in Domino, et exsultate, iusti: et gloriamini, omnes recti corde.
Rejoice in the Lord, and exult, you just; and glory, all you upright of heart.
- laetamini — laetor, -ari, -atus sum — rejoice (2 pl pres. imper. deponent)
- exsultate — exsulto, -are, -avi, -atum — exult (2 pl pres. imper. act.)
- gloriamini — glorior, -ari, -atus sum — glory, boast (2 pl pres. imper. deponent)
- rectus, -a, -um — straight, upright
- cor, cordis (n) — heart
Study Exercise
Translate into Latin:
- Blessed are they whose sins are forgiven.
- I said, I will confess my sin to the Lord.
- You are my refuge from trouble.
- Do not be like the horse and the mule.
- Rejoice in the Lord, all you upright of heart.
Answers:
- Beati quorum remissae sunt iniquitates.
- Dixi: confitebor Domino peccatum meum.
- Tu es refugium meum a tribulatione.
- Nolite fieri sicut equus et mulus.
- Laetamini in Domino, omnes recti corde.