- Confitebor tibi, Domine, in toto corde meo: narrabo omnia mirabilia tua.
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart: I will tell of all your wonderful works.
Notes:
- confitebor – 1st sg. fut. ind. of confiteor, confiteri, confessus sum (dep.) – to confess, acknowledge, give thanks.
- narrabo – 1st sg. fut. ind. of narro, narrare, narravi, narratum – to tell, relate.
- mirabilia, -ium (n. pl.) – wonderful things, marvels.
- Laetabor et exsultabo in te: psallam nomini tuo, Altissime.
I will rejoice and exult in you: I will sing to your name, O Most High.
Notes:
- laetabor – 1st sg. fut. ind. of laetor, laetari, laetatus sum (dep.) – to rejoice, be glad.
- exsultabo – 1st sg. fut. ind. of exsulto, exsultare, exsultavi, exsultatum – to exult, leap for joy.
- psallam – 1st sg. fut. ind. of psallo, psallere, psallui – to play (on strings), sing psalms.
- Altissimus, -i (m.) – the Most High.
- In convertendo inimicum meum retrorsum: infirmabuntur, et peribunt a facie tua.
When my enemy turns back: they will be weakened and perish before your face.
Notes:
- convertendo – abl. gerund of converto, convertere, converti, conversum – to turn around.
- inimicus, -i (m.) – enemy, adversary.
- retrorsum – backwards, back.
- infirmabuntur – 3rd pl. fut. ind. of infirmo, infirmare, infirmavi, infirmatum – to weaken.
- peribunt – 3rd pl. fut. ind. of pereo, perire, perii, peritum – to perish.
- Quoniam fecisti iudicium meum et causam meam: sedisti super thronum, qui iudicas iustitiam.
For you upheld my judgment and my cause: you sat upon the throne judging with justice.
Notes:
- fecisti – 2nd sg. perf. ind. of facio, facere, feci, factum – to do, make.
- iudicium, -ii (n.) – judgment, decision, right.
- causa, -ae (f.) – cause, case, plea.
- sedisti – 2nd sg. perf. ind. of sedeo, sedere, sedi, sessum – to sit.
- iudicas – 2nd sg. pres. ind. of iudico, iudicare, iudicavi, iudicatum – to judge.
- iustitia, -ae (f.) – justice.
- Increpasti gentes, et periit impius: nomen eorum delesti in aeternum, et in saeculum saeculi.
You rebuked the nations, the wicked perished: you blotted out their name forever and ever.
Notes:
- increpasti – 2nd sg. perf. ind. of increpo, increpare, increpui, increpitum – to rebuke.
- gens, gentis (f.) – nation, people.
- impius, -i (m.) – ungodly, wicked person.
- delesti – 2nd sg. perf. ind. of deleō, delere, delevi, deletum – to blot out.
- in aeternum – forever.
- in saeculum saeculi – emphatic “for ever and ever.”
- Inimici defecerunt frameae in finem: et civitates eorum destruxisti. Periit memoria eorum cum sonitu:
The enemies have come to an end in everlasting ruins: you destroyed their cities. Their memory has perished with a sound.
Notes:
- defecerunt – 3rd pl. perf. ind. of deficio, deficere, defeci, defectum – to fail, come to an end.
- framea, -ae (f.) – sword, weapon.
- in finem – completely, to the end.
- civitas, -atis (f.) – city.
- destruxisti – 2nd sg. perf. ind. of destruo, destruere, destruxi, destructum – to destroy.
- memoria, -ae (f.) – memory, remembrance.
- sonitus, -us (m.) – sound, crash.
- Et Dominus in aeternum permanet: paravit in iudicio thronum suum.
But the Lord remains forever: he has prepared his throne for judgment.
Notes:
- permanet – 3rd sg. pres. ind. of permaneo, permanere, permansi, permansum – to remain, endure.
- paravit – 3rd sg. perf. ind. of paro, parare, paravi, paratum – to prepare.
- thronus, -i (m.) – throne.
- Et ipse iudicabit orbem terrae in aequitate, iudicabit populos in iustitia.
And he will judge the world with fairness, he will judge the peoples with justice.
Notes:
- iudicabit – 3rd sg. fut. ind. of iudico, iudicare, iudicavi, iudicatum – to judge.
- orbis terrae – the circle of the earth, the whole world.
- aequitas, -atis (f.) – equity, fairness.
- populus, -i (m.) – people, nation.
- Et factus est Dominus refugium pauperi: adiutor in opportunitatibus, in tribulatione.
And the Lord became a refuge for the poor: a helper in times of need, in tribulation.
Notes:
- refugium, -ii (n.) – refuge, shelter.
- pauper, -eris (m./f.) – poor person.
- adiutor, -oris (m.) – helper, supporter.
- opportunitas, -atis (f.) – timely occasion, opportunity.
- tribulatio, -onis (f.) – distress, tribulation.
- Et sperent in te qui noverunt nomen tuum: quoniam non dereliquisti quaerentes te, Domine.
And let those who know your name hope in you: for you have not forsaken those who seek you, O Lord.
Notes:
- sperent – 3rd pl. pres. subj. of spero, sperare, speravi, speratum – to hope.
- noverunt – 3rd pl. perf. ind. of nosco, noscere, novi, notum – to know.
- dereliquisti – 2nd sg. perf. ind. of derelinquo, derelinquere, dereliqui, derelictum – to forsake.
- quaerentes – pres. part. acc. pl. of quaero, quaerere, quaesivi, quaesitum – to seek.
- Psallite Domino, qui habitat in Sion: annuntiate inter gentes studia eius.
Sing to the Lord, who dwells in Zion: declare among the nations his deeds.
Notes:
- psallite – 2nd pl. pres. impv. of psallo, psallere – sing psalms, play.
- habitat – 3rd sg. pres. ind. of habito, habitare, habitavi, habitatum – to dwell.
- Sion, -is (f.) – Zion (mountain in Jerusalem).
- annuntiate – 2nd pl. pres. impv. of annuntio, annuntiare, annuntiavi, annuntiatum – to announce.
- studia, -orum (n. pl.) – here: deeds, works (lit. pursuits, zeal).
- Quoniam requirens sanguinem eorum recordatus est: non est oblitus clamorem pauperum.
For he who requires their blood has remembered: he has not forgotten the cry of the poor.
Notes:
- requirens – pres. part. nom. sg. of requiro, requirere, requisivi, requisitum – to require, demand.
- sanguis, -inis (m.) – blood.
- recordatus est – 3rd sg. perf. dep. of recordor, recordari, recordatus sum – to remember.
- oblitus est – 3rd sg. perf. dep. of obliviscor, oblivisci, oblitus sum – to forget.
- clamor, -oris (m.) – cry, shout.
- Miserere mei, Domine: vide humilitatem meam de inimicis meis.
Have mercy on me, O Lord: see my humiliation from my enemies.
Notes:
- miserere – 2nd sg. pres. impv. of misereor, misereri, miseritus sum – to have mercy.
- vide – 2nd sg. pres. impv. of video, videre, vidi, visum – to see.
- humilitas, -atis (f.) – lowliness, humiliation.
- inimicus, -i (m.) – enemy.
- Qui exaltas me de portis mortis, ut annuntiem omnes laudationes tuas in portis filiae Sion.
You who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may declare all your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion.
Notes:
- exaltas – 2nd sg. pres. ind. of exalto, exaltare – to lift up, exalt.
- porta, -ae (f.) – gate.
- mors, mortis (f.) – death.
- annuntiem – 1st sg. pres. subj. of annuntio – that I may declare.
- laudatio, -onis (f.) – praise.
- filia Sion – daughter of Zion, poetic image for Jerusalem.
- Exsultabo in salutari tuo: infixae sunt gentes in interitu, quem fecerunt.
I will exult in your salvation: the nations are caught in the destruction they made.
Notes:
- exsultabo – 1st sg. fut. ind. of exsulto – to exult.
- salutare, -is (n.) – salvation, deliverance.
- infixae sunt – 3rd pl. perf. pass. ind. of infigo, infigere, infixi, infixum – to fasten, fix.
- interitus, -us (m.) – ruin, destruction.
- In laqueo isto, quem absconderunt, comprehensus est pes eorum.
In the snare which they hid, their own foot has been caught.
Notes:
- laqueus, -i (m.) – snare, trap.
- absconderunt – 3rd pl. perf. ind. of abscondo, abscondere, abscondi, absconditum – to hide.
- comprehensus est – 3rd sg. perf. pass. ind. of comprehendo, comprehendere, comprehendi, comprehensum – to seize, catch.
- pes, pedis (m.) – foot.
- Cognoscetur Dominus iudicia faciens: in operibus manuum suarum comprehensus est peccator.
The Lord will be known by executing judgments: the sinner is trapped in the works of his own hands.
Notes:
- cognoscetur – 3rd sg. fut. pass. ind. of cognosco, cognoscere, cognovi, cognitum – to know, become known.
- facient (facit) – 3rd sg. pres. part. of facio – doing, making.
- opera, -orum (n. pl.) – works, deeds.
- manus, -us (f.) – hand.
- peccator, -oris (m.) – sinner.
- Convertantur peccatores in infernum, omnes gentes quae obliviscuntur Deum.
Let sinners be turned into hell, all the nations that forget God.
Notes:
- convertantur – 3rd pl. pres. subj. pass. of converto – let them be turned.
- infernum, -i (n.) – the underworld, hell.
- oblivi-scuntur – 3rd pl. pres. dep. of obliviscor – they forget.
- Quoniam non in finem oblivio erit pauperis: patientia pauperum non peribit in aeternum.
For the poor shall not always be forgotten: the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.
Notes:
- oblivio, -onis (f.) – forgetfulness.
- pauper, -eris (m./f.) – poor person.
- patientia, -ae (f.) – endurance, patience; here “hope.”
- peribit – 3rd sg. fut. ind. of pereo – will perish.
- Exsurge, Domine, non confortetur homo: iudicentur gentes in conspectu tuo.
Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail: let the nations be judged in your sight.
Notes:
- exsurge – 2nd sg. pres. impv. of exsurgo, exsurgere, exsurrexi, exsurrectum – arise.
- confortetur – 3rd sg. pres. subj. pass. of conforto, confortare – to be strengthened, prevail.
- iudicentur – 3rd pl. pres. subj. pass. of iudico – let them be judged.
- conspectus, -us (m.) – sight, presence.
- Constitue, Domine, legislatorem super eos: ut sciant gentes quoniam homines sunt.
Appoint, O Lord, a lawgiver over them: that the nations may know that they are but men.
Notes:
- constituere – 2nd sg. pres. impv. of constituo, constituere, constitui, constitutum – to set, appoint.
- legislator, -oris (m.) – lawgiver, ruler.
- sciant – 3rd pl. pres. subj. of scio, scire, scivi, scitum – to know.
- homines – men, mortal humans.