Nonne Deo subiecta erit anima mea?
(In finem, pro Idithun. Psalmus David.)
Verse 1
Nonne Deo subiecta erit anima mea? ab ipso enim salutare meum.
Shall not my soul be subject to God? For from Him comes my salvation.
Word Notes
- subiecta erit — sum, esse, fui, futurus + subicio, subicere, subieci, subiectum → will be made subject, will be submitted
- anima, -ae (f.) – soul, life, self
- salutare, -is (n.) – salvation, deliverance, saving help
- ab ipso – from Him alone, emphatic ipse
Verse 2
Nam et ipse Deus meus, et salutaris meus; susceptor meus, non movebor amplius.
For He alone is my God and my Saviour; my supporter, I shall not be moved any more.
Word Notes
- susceptor, -oris (m.) – supporter, upholder, protector
- movebor – moveo, movere, movi, motum – I shall be moved
- amplius – any more, further
Verse 3
Quousque irruitis in hominem? interficitis universi vos, tamquam parieti inclinato et maceriae depulsae?
How long will you rush upon a man? Will you all destroy him, like a leaning wall and a fence shaken down?
Word Notes
- irruitis – irruo, irruere, irrui – you rush, attack
- interficitis – interficio, interficere, interfeci, interfectum – you kill, destroy
- paries, -etis (m.) – wall (of a building)
- maceria, -ae (f.) – fence, wall, hedge
- depulsa, -us – driven down, knocked aside
Verse 4
Verumtamen pretium meum cogitaverunt repellere; cucurri in siti: ore suo benedicebant, et corde suo maledicebant.
Yet they planned to cast me down from my dignity; they ran in thirst: with their mouth they blessed, but in their heart they cursed.
Word Notes
- pretium, -ii (n.) – worth, dignity, honour
- cogitaverunt – cogito, cogitare, cogitavi, cogitatum – they thought, planned
- repellere – repello, repellere, reppuli, repulsum – to drive back, cast down
- sitis, -is (f.) – thirst, greed
- benedico / maledico + dat. – to bless / curse
Verse 5
Verumtamen Deo subiecta esto, anima mea, quoniam ab ipso patientia mea.
But still be subject to God, my soul, for from Him is my patience.
Word Notes
- esto – sum, esse, fui – be (imperative future)
- patientia, -ae (f.) – patience, endurance
Verse 6
Quia ipse Deus meus, et salvator meus: adjutor meus, non emigrabo.
For He is my God and my Saviour: my helper, I shall not be moved away.
Word Notes
- adjutor, -oris (m.) – helper, aid
- emigro, -are, -avi, -atum – to depart, move away
Verse 7
In Deo salutare meum, et gloria mea; Deus auxilii mei, et spes mea in Deo est.
In God is my salvation and my glory; God is my help, and my hope is in God.
Word Notes
- salutare, -is (n.) – salvation, deliverance
- auxilium, -ii (n.) – help, aid
- spes, -ei (f.) – hope, trust
Verse 8
Sperate in eo omnis congregatio populi, effundite coram illo corda vestra: Deus adjutor noster in aeternum.
Trust in Him, all you people; pour out your hearts before Him: God is our helper for ever.
Word Notes
- spero, -are, -avi, -atum – to hope, trust
- effundo, effundere, effudi, effusum – pour out
- cor, cordis (n.) – heart
- congregatio, -onis (f.) – assembly, gathering
Verse 9
Verumtamen vani filii hominum, mendaces filii hominum in stateris, ut decipiant ipsi de vanitate in idipsum.
But truly, the sons of men are vain; the sons of men are liars in the balances: they deceive themselves in vanity.
Word Notes
- vanus, -a, -um – empty, vain, futile
- mendax, -acis – deceitful, false
- statera, -ae (f.) – balance, scale
- decipio, decipere, decepi, deceptum – to deceive
Verse 10
Nolite sperare in iniquitate, et rapinas nolite concupiscere; divitiae si affluant, nolite cor apponere.
Put not your hope in iniquity, and do not long for plunder; if riches flow in, do not set your heart upon them.
Word Notes
- iniquitas, -atis (f.) – wrongdoing, injustice
- rapina, -ae (f.) – robbery, plunder
- concupisco, concupiscere, concupivi, concupitum – to desire strongly
- affluo, affluere, affluxi – to flow in abundance
- cor apponere – to set one’s heart
Verse 11
Semel locutus est Deus, duo haec audivi, quia potestas Dei est.
God has spoken once; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God.
Word Notes
- semel – once
- duo haec audivi – I have heard these two things
- potestas, -atis (f.) – power, authority
Verse 12
Et tibi, Domine, misericordia, quia tu reddes unicuique juxta opera sua.
And to You, O Lord, belongs mercy: for You will render to every man according to his works.
Word Notes
- misericordia, -ae (f.) – mercy, loving-kindness
- reddes – reddo, reddere, reddidi, redditum – you will repay, render
- unicuique – to each one
- opera, -orum (n. pl.) – works, deeds
Summary Commentary
Psalm 61 expresses the quiet strength of inward faith amid external hostility. The psalmist begins in self-exhortation — “My soul, be subject to God” — reminding himself where peace and endurance truly lie. Unlike those who pursue violence or wealth, he seeks stability in divine order.
The poem contrasts two worlds:
- the world of deceit, vanity, and aggression (filii hominum),
- and the world of steadfast trust in divine justice.
The repetition of “Deus meus et salvator meus” builds a rhythm of reassurance, moving from uncertainty to confidence. The final verse joins power with mercy — a moral balance at the heart of divine order. God’s strength is not arbitrary but tempered by compassion and equity.
Psychologically, the psalm describes the integration of fear and faith: the anxious soul (anima) finds equilibrium by yielding — not by resistance. The phrase non movebor amplius conveys inner stability, the still point of moral awareness.
Exercises
1️⃣ Translation Practice
Translate the following phrases into English:
a. Nonne Deo subiecta erit anima mea?
b. Sperate in eo omnis congregatio populi.
c. Divitiae si affluant, nolite cor apponere.
2️⃣ Vocabulary
Give meanings and principal parts for:
- emigro
- decipio
- concupisco
- effundo
- moveo
3️⃣ Reflection
- What contrast does the psalmist draw between human power and divine power?
- How does the psalm teach inner calm in a world of deceit and ambition?
- In psychological terms, what might “submission” (subiecta esto) mean for a modern reader?