Deus Deus meus, ad te de luce vigilo
(Psalmus David, cum esset in deserto Idumaeae)
Verse 1
Deus, Deus meus, ad te de luce vigilo. Sitivit in te anima mea; quam multipliciter tibi caro mea.
O God, my God, from dawn I keep watch for you. My soul has thirsted for you; my flesh longs for you exceedingly.
Word Notes
- vigilo, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to watch, keep awake
- sitivit – sito, sitire, sitivi (4th conj.) – has thirsted
- anima, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – soul, self
- caro, carnis (f., 3rd decl.) – flesh, body
- multipliciter (adv.) – exceedingly, intensely
Verse 2
In terra deserta et invia et inaquosa, sic in sancto apparui tibi, ut viderem virtutem tuam et gloriam tuam.
In a dry and pathless land, without water, so I appeared before you in the sanctuary, to behold your power and your glory.
Word Notes
- desertus, -a, -um – deserted, barren
- invia, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – pathless place
- inaquosus, -a, -um – waterless
- apparui – appareo, apparere, apparui (2nd conj.) – I appeared
- virtus, -utis (f., 3rd decl.) – power, strength
- gloria, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – glory
Verse 3
Quoniam melior est misericordia tua super vitas; labia mea laudabunt te.
For your mercy is better than life itself; my lips shall praise you.
Word Notes
- melior, melius (comp. adj.) – better
- misericordia, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – mercy, compassion
- vita, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – life
- labia, -orum (n., 2nd decl. pl.) – lips
- laudo, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to praise
Verse 4
Sic benedicam te in vita mea, et in nomine tuo levabo manus meas.
So will I bless you in my life, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
Word Notes
- benedicam – benedico, benedicere, benedixi, benedictum (3rd conj.) – I will bless
- levabo – levo, levare, levavi, levatum (1st conj.) – I will lift
- manus, -us (f., 4th decl.) – hand
Verse 5
Sicut adipe et pinguedine repleatur anima mea, et labiis exsultationis laudabit os meum.
As with marrow and fatness my soul shall be filled, and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips.
Word Notes
- adeps, adipis (m., 3rd decl.) – fat, richness
- pinguedo, -inis (f., 3rd decl.) – fatness, abundance
- repleatur – repleo, replere, replevi, repletum (2nd conj.) – may be filled
- exsultatio, -onis (f., 3rd decl.) – rejoicing
- os, oris (n., 3rd decl.) – mouth
Verse 6
Si memor fui tui super stratum meum, in matutinis meditabor in te.
If I have remembered you upon my bed, in the morning I will meditate on you.
Word Notes
- memini, meminisse (defective verb) – to remember (perfect form, present meaning)
- stratum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – bed, couch
- matutinus, -a, -um – of the morning
- meditabor – meditor, meditari, meditatus sum (1st conj., deponent) – I will meditate
Verse 7
Quia fuisti adiutor meus, et in velamento alarum tuarum exsultabo.
For you have been my helper, and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.
Word Notes
- fuisti – sum, esse, fui, futurus (irreg.) – you have been
- adiutor, -oris (m., 3rd decl.) – helper
- velamentum, -i (n., 2nd decl.) – covering, shelter
- ala, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – wing
- exsulto, -are, -avi, -atum (1st conj.) – to rejoice
Verse 8
Adhaesit anima mea post te; me suscepit dextera tua.
My soul has clung after you; your right hand has upheld me.
Word Notes
- adhaesit – adhaereo, adhaerere, adhaesi, adhaesum (2nd conj.) – has clung
- suscepit – suscipio, suscipere, suscepi, susceptum (3rd conj.) – has upheld
- dextera, -ae (f., 1st decl.) – right hand
Verse 9
Ipsi vero in vanum quaesierunt animam meam; introibunt in inferiora terrae.
But they have sought my soul in vain; they shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
Word Notes
- quaesierunt – quaero, quaerere, quaesivi, quaesitum (3rd conj.) – they have sought
- in vanum (adv. phrase) – in vain
- inferiora terrae (idiom) – the lower parts of the earth
Verse 10
Tradentur in manus gladii; partes vulpium erunt.
They shall be delivered into the hands of the sword; they shall be the portion of foxes.
Word Notes
- tradentur – trado, tradere, tradidi, traditum (3rd conj.) – they will be delivered
- gladius, -ii (m., 2nd decl.) – sword
- pars, partis (f., 3rd decl.) – part, portion
- vulpes, -is (f., 3rd decl.) – fox
Verse 11
Rex vero laetabitur in Deo; laudabuntur omnes qui jurant in eo, quia obstructum est os loquentium iniqua.
But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall be praised, for the mouth of those who speak lies is stopped.
Word Notes
- rex, regis (m., 3rd decl.) – king
- laetabitur – laetor, laetari, laetatus sum (1st conj., deponent) – shall rejoice
- jurant – juro, jurare, juravi, juratum (1st conj.) – they swear
- obstructum est – obstruo, obstruere, obstruxi, obstructum (3rd conj.) – has been stopped
- loquor, loqui, locutus sum (3rd conj., deponent) – to speak
- iniqua, -orum (n. pl., 2nd decl.) – unjust things, wickedness
SUMMARY COMMENTARY
Psalm 62 expresses the yearning of the soul for divine intimacy. The desert setting symbolises spiritual dryness: the absence of worldly comfort intensifies awareness of God. The psalm moves from seeking (vv.1–2) to finding (vv.5–8), ending with confidence in divine justice (vv.9–11).
The vocabulary of thirst (sitivit anima mea) and flesh (caro mea) bridges the physical and the spiritual. The psalmist’s worship is embodied; longing itself becomes an act of faith. The imagery of dawn and wings blends awakening and protection—psychologically, the passage from anxiety to assurance.
In moral terms, Psalm 62 contrasts inner communion with external striving. Those who seek worldly gain descend (introibunt in inferiora terrae); those who cling to the divine ascend in spirit. The right hand (dextera tua) and wings (alarum tuarum) unite the masculine strength and maternal shelter of the divine image.
EXERCISES
(a) ENGLISH → LATIN TRANSLATION
Translate:
- My soul has thirsted for you.
- In the morning I will meditate on you.
- The king shall rejoice in God.
- They shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
Key:
- Sitivit in te anima mea.
- In matutinis meditabor in te.
- Rex laetabitur in Deo.
- Introibunt in inferiora terrae.
(b) VERB FORM PRACTICE
Give full principal parts and meaning:
- adhaesit – adhaereo, adhaerere, adhaesi, adhaesum (2nd conj.) – has clung
- laudabunt – laudo, laudare, laudavi, laudatum (1st conj.) – they will praise
- tradentur – trado, tradere, tradidi, traditum (3rd conj.) – they will be delivered
- meditabor – meditor, meditari, meditatus sum (1st conj., deponent) – I will meditate
- levabo – levo, levare, levavi, levatum (1st conj.) – I will lift
Conjugation Practice
Form the present, imperfect, and future indicative of benedico (3rd conj.):
| Tense | Forms |
|---|---|
| Present | benedico, benedicis, benedicit, benedicimus, benedicitis, benedicunt |
| Imperfect | benedicebam, benedicebas, benedicebat, benedicebamus, benedicebatis, benedicebant |
| Future | benedicam, benedices, benedicet, benedicemus, benedicetis, benedicent |
Form the perfect and pluperfect of repleo (2nd conj.):
| Tense | Forms |
|---|---|
| Perfect | replevi, replevisti, replevit, replevimus, replevistis, repleverunt |
| Pluperfect | repleveram, repleveras, repleverat, repleveramus, repleveratis, repleverant |
(c) REFLECTION
- How does the psalm use bodily imagery to express spiritual longing?
- In what way does the desert symbolise inner emptiness or renewal?
- Compare this psalm’s mood of thirst and dawn with Psalm 61’s calm endurance.