Psalmus 53 (Vulgate)


(Vulgata: “Deus, in nomine tuo salvum me fac”) — “Save me, O God, by thy name”


Versus 1

Deus, in nomine tuo salvum me fac,
et in virtute tua iudica me.

O God, save me by your name,
and judge me by your power.

Word Notes

  • Deus, Dei (m.) – God
  • nomen, nominis (n.) – name
  • salvum me facmake me safe, save me; imperat. of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum
  • virtus, virtutis (f.) – power, strength, virtue
  • iudicajudge (me); imperat. of iudicō, iudicāre, iudicāvī, iudicātum

Versus 2

Deus, exaudi orationem meam,
auribus percipe verba oris mei.

O God, hear my prayer,
listen with your ears to the words of my mouth.

Word Notes

  • exaudihear, listen favourably; imperat. of ex audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītum
  • oratio, orationis (f.) – speech, prayer
  • auris, auris (f.) – ear
  • percipeperceive, attend to; imperat. of percipiō, percipere, percēpī, perceptum
  • os, oris (n.) – mouth

Versus 3

Quoniam alieni insurrexerunt adversum me,
et fortes quaesierunt animam meam;
non proposuerunt Deum ante conspectum suum.

For strangers have risen up against me,
and the mighty have sought after my life;
they have not set God before their eyes.

Word Notes

  • alienus, -a, -umforeign, alien, hostile
  • insurrexerunthave risen up; perf. of insurgō, insurgere, insurrēxī, insurrectum
  • adversum (+ acc.) – against
  • fortes, fortium (m. pl.) – the strong, powerful men
  • quaesieruntthey have sought; perf. of quaerō, quaerere, quaesīvī, quaesītum
  • anima, animae (f.) – soul, life
  • proposueruntthey have set forth, placed before; perf. of prōpōnō, prōpōnere, prōposuī, prōpositum
  • conspectus, -ūs (m.) – sight, presence

Versus 4

Ecce enim Deus adiuvat me,
et Dominus susceptor est animae meae.

Behold, God helps me;
and the Lord is the protector of my soul.

Word Notes

  • eccebehold, look
  • adiuvathelps, assists; pres. of adiuvō, adiuvāre, adiūvī, adiūtum
  • Dominus, Domini (m.) – Lord
  • susceptor, susceptoris (m.) – protector, defender, supporter
  • anima, animae (f.) – soul, life

Versus 5

Averte mala inimicis meis;
et in veritate tua disperde illos.

Turn evil back upon my enemies;
and destroy them in your truth.

Word Notes

  • averteturn away, repel; imperat. of āvertō, āvertere, āvertī, āversum
  • malum, mali (n.) – evil, harm
  • inimicus, -ī (m.) – enemy
  • veritas, veritatis (f.) – truth, faithfulness
  • disperdedestroy, scatter utterly; imperat. of disperdō, disperdere, disperdidī, disperditum

Versus 6

Voluntarie sacrificabo tibi,
et confitebor nomini tuo, Domine, quoniam bonum est.

I will offer a sacrifice to you willingly,
and will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.

Word Notes

  • voluntariefreely, willingly; adv. from voluntarius
  • sacrificaboI will sacrifice; fut. of sacrificō, sacrificāre, sacrificāvī, sacrificātum
  • confitēborI will confess / give thanks; fut. of confiteor, confitērī, confessus sum (dep.)
  • bonus, -a, -umgood

Versus 7

Quoniam ex omni tribulatione eripuisti me,
et super inimicos meos despexit oculus meus.

For you have delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

Word Notes

  • tribulatio, tribulationis (f.) – trouble, distress
  • eripuistiyou have snatched away, delivered; perf. of ēripiō, ēripere, ēripuī, ēreptum
  • super (+ acc.) – over, upon, above
  • despexithas looked down upon, regarded with disdain / triumph; perf. of dēspiciō, dēspicere, dēspexī, dēspectum
  • oculus, oculi (m.) – eye

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