(Vulgata: “Exaudi, Deus, deprecationem meam”) — “Hear, O God, my supplication.”
(Traditionally attributed to David, written “when he was beyond the Jordan.” A personal prayer of exile and trust.)
Versus 1
Exaudi, Deus, deprecationem meam;
intende orationi meae.
Hear, O God, my supplication;
attend to my prayer.
Word Notes
- exaudi – hear favourably; imperat. of ex audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītum
- deprecatio, deprecationis (f.) – supplication, entreaty, plea
- intende – give attention to; imperat. of intendō, intendere, intendī, intentum
- oratio, orationis (f.) – speech, prayer
Commentary
The psalm begins in exile. Exaudi and intende form a double plea: not merely to be heard, but to be heard with favour and intent.
Versus 2
A finibus terrae ad te clamavi, dum anxiaretur cor meum:
in petra exaltasti me, deduxisti me.
From the ends of the earth I cried to you, when my heart was in distress:
you raised me upon the rock, you have led me forth.
Word Notes
- finis, finis (m.) – end, border, extremity
- clamavi – I cried out; perf. of clāmō, clāmāre, clāmāvī, clāmātum
- anxiaretur – was distressed, troubled; imperf. subj. of anxio, anxiāre (rare, poetic use)
- petra, petrae (f.) – rock (symbol of security)
- exaltasti – you have lifted up; perf. of exaltō, exaltāre, exaltāvī, exaltātum
- deduxisti – you have led / guided; perf. of dēdūcō, dēdūcere, dēdūxī, dēductum
Commentary
Distance is spiritual as well as geographic: “from the ends of the earth” evokes alienation and longing. God is the returning centre who both lifts up and leads on.
Versus 3
Factus es spes mea; turris fortitudinis a facie inimici.
You have been my hope, a tower of strength against the enemy.
Word Notes
- spes, spei (f.) – hope
- turris, turris (f.) – tower
- fortitudo, fortitudinis (f.) – strength
- a facie inimici – from the face / presence of the enemy
Commentary
The imagery shifts from a “rock” to a “tower” — vertical symbols of divine stability amid danger.
Versus 4
Inhabitabo in tabernaculo tuo in saecula:
protegar in velamento alarum tuarum.
I shall dwell in your tabernacle forever:
I shall be protected under the covering of your wings.
Word Notes
- inhabitabo – I shall dwell; fut. of inhabitō, inhabitāre, inhabitāvī, inhabitātum
- tabernaculum, tabernaculi (n.) – tent, dwelling, tabernacle
- protegar – I shall be protected; fut. pass. of prōtego, prōtegere, prōtēxī, prōtectum
- velamentum, velamenti (n.) – covering, veil
- ala, alae (f.) – wing
Commentary
The “tabernacle” — the sanctuary of God — becomes a timeless refuge. “Wings” recall earlier psalms (56:1), uniting the themes of exile and safety.
Versus 5
Quoniam tu, Deus meus, exaudisti orationem meam;
dedisti hereditatem timentibus nomen tuum.
For you, O my God, have heard my prayer;
you have given an inheritance to those who fear your name.
Word Notes
- exaudisti – you have heard favourably; perf. of ex audiō
- hereditas, hereditatis (f.) – inheritance, heritage
- timentibus – to those fearing; dat. pl. pres. part. of timeō
Commentary
Faith looks backward: the experience of past deliverance assures future protection. Inheritance here means spiritual continuity — belonging to God’s covenant.
Versus 6
Dies super dies regis adicies;
annos eius usque in diem generationis et generationis.
You will add days upon the days of the king;
his years shall be as many as generation after generation.
Word Notes
- adicies – you will add; fut. of adiiciō, adiicere, adiēcī, adiectum
- generatio, generationis (f.) – generation, age
Commentary
Though personal, the prayer extends to the nation’s ruler (perhaps David himself). Long life symbolises the endurance of just leadership.
Versus 7
Permanet in aeternum in conspectu Dei; misericordiam et veritatem eius quis requiret?
He shall abide forever in the sight of God; who shall seek his mercy and his truth?
Word Notes
- permanet – he abides, remains; pres. of permaneō, permanēre, permānsī, permānsum
- conspectus, -ūs (m.) – sight, presence
- requireret (alt. reading: requirat) – seeks, will seek; subj. or fut. of requirō, requirere, requīsīvī, requīsītum
Commentary
The rhetorical question expresses wonder: mercy and truth preserve the ruler, but who can fully comprehend them?
Versus 8
Sic psallam nomini tuo in saeculum saeculi,
ut reddam vota mea de die in diem.
So will I sing to your name forever,
that I may pay my vows day by day.
Word Notes
- sic – thus, so
- psallam – I will sing psalms; fut. of psallō, psallere
- reddam – I will render, repay; fut. of reddō, reddere, reddidī, redditum
- votum, voti (n.) – vow, promise to God
Commentary
Praise seals the covenant of gratitude: the psalmist’s response to deliverance is continual thanksgiving — de die in diem.
✶ Summary Commentary
Psalm 60 is both personal and royal. It begins with an individual’s cry from exile and ends with the confidence of restored kingship. The imagery of rock, tower, and wings conveys protection; “from the ends of the earth” becomes a metaphor for the soul’s return from estrangement to divine presence.
The Psalm’s movement is cyclical: prayer → deliverance → praise. Faith travels from distance to dwelling, from anxiety to song.
✶ Exercises
1️⃣ Vocabulary & Grammar
a. Give full principal parts and meanings of: intende, anxiaretur, exaltasti, protegar, adicies.
b. Parse in tabernaculo tuo in saecula: what case and number is saecula?
c. Explain the use of de die in diem — what does the repetition express?
2️⃣ Translation Practice
Translate into Latin:
- “From the ends of the earth I will cry to you.”
- “You are my rock and my tower of strength.”
- “I will sing to your name forever.”
3️⃣ Reflection
- What images of safety and permanence stand out to you?
- How does this psalm unite the personal and the national?
- “From exile to tabernacle” — how might that journey describe spiritual experience today?