Monday Matins

Struggle and victory of the kingdom of God

Monday Matins is held together by a unified theme; the Psalms shew an orderly progression of thought.  We begin with a sorrowful look at the enemies of the kingdom of God, sin and ímpiety (Ps. 13), then we consider the citizens of the kingdom (Ps. 14) and the struggles of the Church in this world (Ps. 16).  Next a long Psalm dramatizes the theme of battle and victory in the stormy life of King David (Ps. 17).  Henceforward, the joy of victory is preponderant.  Christ is Warrior and Victor (Ps. 19, 20).  The last Psalm (29) is a mighty "Thanks be to God" for his gift of victory.

Enemies of God's kingdom

Lord, overcome the man of sin in me

First of all, we must scout our enemy, sin.  A good general never underestimates his enemy.

Their godless doings

Dixit insípiens in corde suo: * Non est Deus.
2  Corrúpti sunt, et abominábiles facti sunt in stúdiis suis: * non est qui fáciat bonum, non est usque ad unum.
3  Dóminus de cælo prospéxit super fílios hóminum, * ut vídeat si est intélligens, aut requírens Deum.
4  Omnes declinavérunt, simul inútiles facti sunt: * non est qui fáciat bonum, non est usque ad unum.
5  Sepúlcrum patens est guttur eórum: linguis suis dolóse agébant * venénum áspidum sub lábiis eórum.
6  Quorum os maledictióne et amaritúdine plenum est: * velóces pedes eórum ad effundéndum sánguinem.
7  Contrítio et infelícitas in viis eórum, et viam pacis non cognovérunt: * non est timor Dei ante óculos eórum.

The fool hath said in his heart : * There is no God.
2  They are corrupt, and become abominable in their doings; * there is none that doeth good, no not one.
3  The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, * to see if there were any that would understand, and seek after God.
4  But they are all gone out of the way, they are altogether become abominable; * there is none that doeth good, no not one.
5  Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues have they deceived; * the poison of asps is under their lips.
6  Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; * their feet are swift to shed blood.
7  Destruction and unhappiness is in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known: * there is no fear of God before their eyes.

They will not overcome

8  Nonne cognóscent omnes qui operántur iniquitátem, * qui dévorant plebem meam sicut escam panis?
9  Dóminum non invocavérunt, * illic trepidavérunt timóre, ubi non erat timor.
10  Quóniam Dóminus in generatióne justa est, consílium ínopis confudístis: * quóniam Dóminus spes ejus est.

8  Shall they not know, all they that are such workers of mischief, * eating up my people as it were bread?
9  They have not called upon the Lord, * there have they trembled for fear, where there was no fear.
10  For the Lord is in the generation of the righteous; as for you, ye have confounded the counsel of the poor; * because he putteth his trust in the Lord.

Finale

11  Quis dabit ex Sion salutáre Israël? * cum averterit Dóminus captivitátem plebis suæ, exsultábit Jacob, et lætábitur Israël.

11  Who shall give salvation unto Israel out of Sion? * When the Lord turneth the captivity of his people; then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be right glad.

Psalm 14.  Domine, quis habitabit?

Citizen and soldier in the kingdom

Who can fight in God's armies?  The man who overcomes sin.  The Psalm is an examination of conscience.

Question:  Who can approach the Lord?

Dómine, quis habitábit in tabernáculo tuo? * aut quis requiéscet in monte sancto tuo?

Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? * or who shall rest upon thy holy hill?

Answer:  The man whose life is upright

2  Qui ingréditur sine mácula, * et operátur justítiam :
3  Qui lóquitur veritátem in corde suo, * qui non egit dolum in lingua sua :
4  Nec fecit próximo suo malum, * et oppróbrium non accépit advérsus próximos suos.
5  Ad níhilum dedúctus est in conspéctu ejus malígnus: * timéntes autem Dóminum gloríficat :
6  Qui jurat próximo suo, et non décipit, * qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad usúram, et múnera super innocéntem non accépit.
7  Qui facit hæc: * non movébitur in ætérnum.

2  Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life, * and doeth the thing which is right.
3  He that speaketh the truth in his heart, * and that hath used no deceit in his tongue.
4  Nor done evil to his neighbour, * and hath not taken up slander against his neighbour.
5  In his sight the malicious is brought to nought, * but he glorifieth them that fear the Lord.
6  He that sweareth unto his neighbour, and disappointeth him not, * he that hath not given his money upon usury, nor taken reward against the innocent.
7  Whoso doeth these things * shall never fall.

Psalm 16.  Exaudi, Domine

Plea of the innocent

Battle in the kingdom

After seeing the lines drawn up, friend and foe, we see the battle itself.  Innocency and justice fight with sin.  It is a fierce struggle, but God is the mighty champion.  The temptations of the devil are vividly portrayed.  This is the Psalm that St. Lawrence prayed while he was being martyred.

Protestation of innocency

Exáudi, Dómine, justítiam meam: * inténde deprecatiónem meam.
2  Auribus pércipe oratiónem meam, * non in lábiis dolósis.
3   De vultu tuo judícium meum pródeat: * óculi tui vídeant æquitátes.
4  Probásti cor meum, et visitásti nocte: * igne me examinásti, et non est invénta in me iníquitas.
5  Ut non loquátur os meum ópera hóminum: * propter verba labiórum tuórum ego custodívi vias duras.
6  Pérfice gressus meos in sémitis tuis: * ut non moveántur vestígia mea.

Hear, O Lord, my righteousness, * consider my supplication.
2  Hearken unto my prayer, * that goeth not out of feigned lips.
3  Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; * and let thine eyes look upon the thing that is equal.
4  Thou hast proved and visited mine heart in the night season;  * thou hast tried me by fire, and wickedness hath not been found in me.
5  That my mouth may not speak the works of men : * for the sake of the words of thy lips I have kept me in the ways that are hard.
6  O hold thou up my goings in thy paths, * that my footsteps slip not.

Plea for protection from enemies

7  Ego clamávi, quóniam exaudísti me, Deus: * inclína aurem tuam mihi, et exáudi verba mea.
8  Mirífica misericórdias tuas, * qui salvos facis sperántes in te.
9  A resisténtibus déxteræ tuæ custódi me, * ut pupíllam óculi.
10  Sub umbra alárum tuárum prótege me: * a fácie impiórum qui me afflixérunt.
11  Inimíci mei ánimam meam circumdedérunt, ádipem suum conclusérunt : * os eórum locútum est supérbiam.
12  Projiciéntes me nunc circumdedérunt me: * óculos suos statuérunt declináre in terram.
13  Suscepérunt me sicut leo parátus ad prædam: * et sicut cátulus leónis hábitans in ábditis.

7  I have called upon thee, O God, for thou hast heard me: * incline thine ear to me, and hearken unto my words.
8  Shew thy marvellous loving-kindness, * thou that art the Saviour of them which put their trust in thee.
9  From such as resist thy right hand, keep me * as the apple of an eye.
10  Hide me under the shadow of thy wings : * from the face of the ungodly, that trouble me.
11  Mine enemies compass my soul round about, they are inclosed in their own fat, * and their mouth hath spoken proud things.
12  They have cast me forth and now they have compassed me on every side, * they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
13  They have taken me like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, * and as it were a lion's whelp lurking in secret places.

Punishment and reward

14  Exsúrge, Dómine, prǽveni eum, et supplánta eum: * éripe ánimam meam ab ímpio, frámeam tuam ab inimícis manus tuæ.
15  Dómine, a paucis de terra dívide eos in vita eórum: * de abscónditis tuis adimplétus est venter eórum.
16  Saturáti sunt fíliis: * et dimisérunt relíquias suas párvulis suis.
17  Ego autem in justítia apparébo conspéctui tuo: * satiabor cum apparúerit glória tua.

14  Up, Lord, disappoint him, and cast him down; * deliver my soul from the ungodly, thy sword from the enemies of thine hand.
15  Divide them, O Lord, from the few of the earth in their life : * their bellies are filled with thy hid treasure.
16  They are full of children, * and they have left the rest of their substance for their little ones.
17  But as for me, I will behold thy presence in righteousness; * and when thy glory shall appear, I shall be satisfied with it.

At the end of his life, David sings this Psalm as a sort of swan song, one of the most beautiful compositions in the Psalter.  He looks back over the battles of his life and his final victory over all his enemies―a note of courage for the coming conflicts of the week.  God's Kingdom, too, must battle in Church and soul―but under God's sure guidance, it will be victorious.  Note particularly the magnificent description of God's apparition, in the figure of a thunder storm.

God, my helper

Díligam te, Dómine, fortitúdo mea: * Dóminus firmaméntum meum, et refúgium meum, et liberátor meus.
2  Deus meus adjútor meus, * et sperábo in eum.
3  Protéctor meus, et cornu salútis meæ, * et suscéptor meus.
4  Laudans invocábo Dóminum: * et ab inimícis meis salvus ero.

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. * The Lord is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer.
2  My God is my helper, * and in him will I put my trust.
3  My protector, the horn also of my salvation, * and my guardian.
4  With high praises will I call upon the Lord, * and I shall be saved from all mine enemies.

Cry for help

5  Circumdedérunt me dolóres mortis: * et torréntes iniquitátis conturbavérunt me.
6  Dolóres inferni circumdedérunt me: * præoccupavérunt me láquei mortis.
7  In tribulatióne mea invocávi Dóminum, * et ad Deum meum clamávi.
8  Et exaudívit de templo sancto suo vocem meam: * et clamor meus in conspéctu ejus, introívit in aures ejus.

5  The sorrows of death compassed me, * and the torrents of ungodliness made me afraid.
6  The sorrows of hell came about me; * the snares of death overtook me.
7  In my affliction I called upon the Lord, * and I cried out unto my God :
8  And he hath heard my voice out of his holy temple, * and my cry was before him, and hath entered even into his ears.

God hastens to aid in a thunder storm

9  Commóta est, et contrémuit terra: * fundaménta móntium conturbáta sunt, et commóta sunt, quóniam irátus est eis.
10  Ascéndit fumus in ira ejus: et ignis a fácie ejus exársit: * carbónes succénsi sunt ab eo.
11  Inclinávit cælos, et descéndit: * et calígo sub pédibus ejus.
12  Et ascéndit super Chérubim, et volávit: * volávit super pennas ventórum.
13  Et pósuit ténebras latíbulum suum, in circúitu ejus tabernáculum ejus: * tenebrósa aqua in núbibus áëris.
14  Præ fulgóre in conspéctu ejus nubes transiérunt, * grando et carbónes ignis.
15  Et intónuit de cælo Dóminus, et Altíssimus dedit vocem suam: * grando et carbónes ignis.
16  Et misit sagíttas suas, et dissipávit eos: * fúlgura multiplicávit, et conturbávit eos.
17  Et apparuérunt fontes aquarum, * et reveláta sunt fundaménta orbis terrárum:
18  Ab increpatióne tua, Dómine, * ab inspiratióne spíritus iræ tuæ.

9  The earth trembled and quaked, * the very foundations also of the hills shook, and were removed, because he was wroth with them.
10  There went up a smoke in his wrath, and a fire flamed from his face : * so that coals were kindled at it.
11  He bowed the heavens also, and came down, * and it was dark under his feet.
12  He ascended above the Cherubims, and did fly; * he came flying upon the wings of the wind.
13  He made darkness his secret place, his pavilion round about him : * dark waters in the clouds of the air.
14  At the brightness of his presence his clouds removed; * hailstones and coals of fire.
15  The Lord also thundered out of heaven, and the Highest gave his voice; * hailstones and coals of fire.
16  He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; * he multiplied the lightnings, and confounded them.
17  Then were springs of water seen, * and the foundations of the round world were discovered.
18  At thy chiding, O Lord, * at the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure.

Salvation

19  Misit de summo, et accépit me: * et assúmpsit me de aquis multis.
20  Erípuit me de inimícis meis fortíssimis, et ab his qui odérunt me: * quóniam confortáti sunt super me.
21  Prævenérunt me in die afflictiónis meæ: * et factus est Dóminus protéctor meus.
22  Et edúxit me in latitúdinem: * salvum me fecit, quóniam vóluit me.

19  He hath sent down from on high to fetch me, * and hath taken me out of many waters.
20  He hath delivered me from my strongest enemy, and from them which hate me; * for they were too mighty for me.
21  They prevented me in the day of my trouble; * but the Lord was my upholder.
22  He brought me forth also into a place of liberty; * he hath saved me, even because he had a favour unto me.

The reward for fidelity to the Law

23  Et retríbuet mihi Dóminus secúndum justítiam meam: * et secúndum puritátem mánuum meárum retríbuet mihi :
24  Quia custodívi vias Dómini, * nec ímpie gessi a Deo meo.
25  Quóniam ómnia judícia ejus in conspéctu meo: * et justítias ejus non répuli a me.
26  Et ero immaculátus cum eo: * et observábo ab iniquitáte mea.
27  Et retríbuet mihi Dóminus secúndum justítiam meam: * et secúndum puritátem mánuum meárum in conspéctu oculórum ejus.

23  And the Lord shall reward me after my righteous dealing, * according to the cleanness of my hands shall he recompense me.
24  Because I have kept the ways of the Lord, * and have not done wickedly against my God.
25  For all his judgments are in my sight, * and I have not cast out his commandments from me.
26  And I shall be uncorrupt before him, * and eschew mine own wickedness.
27  Therefore shall the Lord reward me after my righteous dealing, * and according unto the cleanness of my hands before his eyes.

Thank the just Judge

28  Cum sancto sanctus eris, * et cum viro innocénte ínnocens eris :
29  Et cum elécto eléctus eris: * et cum pervérso pervertéris.
30  Quóniam tu pópulum húmilem salvum fácies: * et óculos superbórum humiliábis.
31  Quóniam tu illúminas lucérnam meam, Dómine: * Deus meus, illúmina ténebras meas.
32  Quóniam in te erípiar a tentatióne, * et in Deo meo transgrédiar murum.
33  Deus meus, impollúta via ejus: elóquia Dómini igne examináta: * protéctor est ómnium sperántium in se.

28  With the holy thou shalt be holy, * and with the innocent man thou shalt be innocent.
29  With the chosen thou shalt be chosen, * and with the perverse thou shalt learn perversion.
30  For thou shalt save the humble people that are in adversity, * and shalt bring down the high looks of the proud.
31  For thou lightest my candle, O Lord; * O my God,  make my darkness to be light.
32  For in thee shall I be delivered from temptation, * and with the help of my God I shall leap over the wall.
33  As for my God, his way is undefiled, the word of the Lord also is tried in the fire; * he is the defender of all them that put their trust in him.

Thank the almighty Helper

34  Quóniam quis Deus præter Dóminum? * aut quis Deus præter Deum nostrum?
35  Deus, qui præcínxit me virtúte: * et pósuit immaculátam viam meam.
36  Qui perfecit pedes meos tamquam cervórum, * et super excélsa státuens me.
37  Qui docet manus meas ad prælium: * et posuísti, ut arcum æreum, bráchia mea.

34  For who is God, but the Lord? * or who is God, except our God?
35  It is God that hath girded me with strength, * and hath made my way blameless.
36  He maketh my feet like harts' feet, * and setteth me up on high.
37  He teacheth mine hands to fight, * and thou hast made mine arms even as a brazen bow.

Psalm 17. iii.  Et dedisti mihi

God gave me victory

38  Et dedísti mihi protectiónem salútis tuæ: * et déxtera tua suscépit me:
39  Et disciplína tua corréxit me in finem: * et disciplína tua ipsa me docébit.
40  Dilatásti gressus meos subtus me: * et non sunt infirmáta vestígia mea:
41  Pérsequar inimícos meos et comprehéndam illos: * et non convértar, donec defíciant.
42  Confríngam illos, nec póterunt stare: * cadent subtus pedes meos.
43  Et præcinxísti me virtúte ad bellum: * supplantásti insurgéntes in me subtus me.
44  Et inimícos meos dedísti mihi dorsum, * et odiéntes me disperdidísti.
45  Clamavérunt, nec erat qui salvos fáceret ad Dóminum: * nec exaudívit eos.
46  Et commínuam illos, ut púlverem ante fáciem venti: * ut lutum plateárum delébo eos.

38  Thou hast given me the defence of thy salvation; * thy right hand also hath upholden me.
39  And thy discipline hath corrected me unto the end : * and thy discipline, the same shall teach me.
40  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, * that my footsteps shall not slide.
41  I will follow upon mine enemies, and overtake them; * neither will I turn again till they are consumed.
42  I will smite them, that they shall not be able to stand, * but they shall fall under my feet.
43  Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; * thou hast thrown them down under me that rise up against me.
44  Thou hast made mine enemies also to turn their backs upon me, * and hast destroyed them that hate me.
45  They have cried out, but there was none to save them;  * yea, even unto the Lord did they cry, but he heard them not.
46  I will beat them as small as the dust before the wind: * I will bring them to nought as the clay in the streets.

God gave me power and glory

47  Eripe me de contradictiónibus pópuli: * constítues me in caput géntium.
48  Pópulus quem non cognóvi servívit mihi: * in audítu auris obedívit mihi.
49  Fílii aliéni mentíti sunt mihi, * fílii aliéni inveteráti sunt, et claudicavérunt a sémitis suis.

47  Thou shalt deliver me from the contradictions of the people, * and thou shalt make me the head of the heathen.
48  A people whom I have not known hath served me : * at the hearing of the ear, they have obeyed me.
49  But the children that are strangers have dissembled with me, * the strange children have faded away, and have halted from their paths.

Finale

50 Vivit Dóminus, et benedíctus Deus meus: * et exaltétur Deus salútis meæ.
51  Deus, qui das vindíctas mihi, et subdis pópulos sub me: * liberátor meus de inimícis meis iracúndis.
52  Et ab insurgéntibus in me exaltábis me: * a viro iníquo erípies me.
53  Proptérea confitébor tibi in natiónibus, Dómine: * et nómini tuo psalmum dicam.
54  Magníficans salútes Regis ejus, et fáciens misericórdiam Christo suo David: * et sémini ejus usque in sæculum.

50  The Lord liveth; and blessed be my God, * and praised be the God of my salvation;
51  Even the God that seeth that I be avenged, and subdueth the people unto me : * it is he that delivereth me from my cruel enemies.
52  And thou shalt set me up above them that rise up against me: * thou shalt deliver me from the wicked man.
53  For this cause will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the nations, * and sing praises unto thy Name.
54  Great prosperity giveth he unto his King, and sheweth loving-kindness unto David his Anointed, * and unto his seed for evermore.

This Psalm is a plea to the Father before the day's battle, the week's conflict, of the kingdom of God―a plea which expresses at the same time great confidence of victory.

Chorus of priests:  Blessing on the arms

Exáudiat te Dóminus in die tribulatiónis: * prótegat te nomen Dei Jacob.
2  Mittat tibi auxílium de sancto: * et de Sion tueátur te.
3  Memor sit omnis sacrifícii tui: * et holocáustum tuum pingue fiat.
4  Tríbuat tibi secúndum cor tuum: * et omne consílium tuum confírmet.
5  Lætábimur in salutári tuo: * et in nómine Dei nostri magnificábimur.

The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; * the Name of the God of Jacob defend thee :
2  May he send thee help from the sanctuary, * and strengthen thee out of Sion :
3  May he remember all thy offerings, * and may thy whole burnt-sacrifice be made fat.
4  May he grant thee thy heart's desire, * and confirm all thy counsels.
5  We will rejoice in thy salvation, * and triumph in the Name of the Lord our God.

Chorus of soldiers:  Pledge of victory

6  Impleat Dóminus omnes petitiónes tuas: * nunc cognóvi quóniam salvum fecit Dóminus Christum suum.
7  Exáudiet illum de cælo sancto suo: * in potentátibus salus déxteræ ejus.
8  Hi in cúrribus, et hi in equis: * nos autem in nómine Dómini, Dei nostri invocábimus.
9  Ipsi obligáti sunt, et cecidérunt: * nos autem surréximus et erecti sumus.

6  May the Lord fulfil all thy petitions : * now have I known that the Lord hath saved his Anointed.
7  He will hear him from his holy heaven, * with wholesome strength is the salvation of his right hand.
8  Some put their trust in chariots, and some in horses: * but we will call upon the Name of the Lord our God.
8  They are brought down, and fallen; * but we are risen, and stand upright.

Finale

10  Dómine salvum fac regem: * et exáudi nos in die, qua invocavérimus te.

9  O Lord, save the king, * and hear us in the day that we shall call upon thee.

Thanksgiving for victory

Christ the Conqueror is crowned by his Father.  During this week we mean to share his victory.

Thanksgiving for victory

Dómine, in virtúte tua lætábitur rex: * et super salutáre tuum exsultábit veheménter.
2  Desidérium cordis ejus tribuísti ei: * et voluntáte labiórum ejus non fraudásti eum.
3  Quóniam prævenísti eum in benedictiónibus dulcédinis: * posuísti in cápite ejus corónam de lápide pretióso.
4  Vitam pétiit a te: * et tribuísti ei longitúdinem diérum in sæculum, et in sæculum sæculi.
5  Magna est glória ejus in salutári tuo: * glóriam et magnum decórem impónes super eum.
6  Quóniam dabis eum in benedictiónem in sæculum sæculi: * lætificábis eum in gáudio cum vultu tuo.
7  Quóniam rex sperat in Dómino: * et in misericórdia Altíssimi non commovébitur.

The King shall rejoice in thy strength, O Lord; * exceeding glad shall he be in thy salvation.
2  Thou hast given him his heart's desire, * and hast not denied him the request of his lips.
3  For thou hast prevented him with the blessings of goodness, * and hast set a crown of precious stones upon his head.
4  He asked life of thee; * and thou gavest him length of days, for ever, even world without end.
5  His honour is great in thy salvation; * glory and great worship shalt thou lay upon him.
6  For thou shalt give him to be a blessing for ever and ever, * and make him glad with the joy of thy countenance.
7  For the king putteth his trust in the Lord; * and in the mercy of the Most Highest he shall not be moved.

Secure future

8  Inveniátur manus tua ómnibus inimícis tuis: * déxtera tua invéniat omnes, qui te odérunt.
9  Pones eos ut clibanum ignis in témpore vultus tui: * Dóminus in ira sua conturbábit eos, et devorábit eos ignis.
10  Fructum eórum de terra perdes: * et semen eórum a fíliis hóminum.
11  Quóniam declinavérunt in te mala: * cogitavérunt consília, quæ non potuérunt stabilíre.
12  Quóniam pones eos dorsum: * in relíquiis tuis præparábis vultum eórum.

8  May all thine enemies find thy hand; * and may thy right hand find out all them that hate thee.
9  Thou shalt make them like a fiery oven in time of thy wrath: * the Lord shall destroy them in his displeasure, and the fire shall consume them.
10  Their fruit shalt thou root out of the earth, * and their seed from among the children of men.
11  For they intended mischief against thee, * and devised counsels such as they were not able to perform.
12  Therefore shalt thou put them to flight, * in thy remnants shalt thou make ready the face of them.

Finale

13  Exaltáre, Dómine, in virtúte tua: * cantábimus et psallémus virtútes tuas.

13  Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength; * so will we sing, and praise thy power.

Psalm 29.  Exaltabo te, Domine

Thanksgiving prayer

In the name of the Church we give thanks for all the conquests in the kingdom of God.  At the same time we hear a fundamental law of the kingdom:  "Heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

Thanksgiving for protection (in peril, sickness, death)

Exaltábo te, Dómine, quóniam suscepísti me: * nec delectásti inimícos meos super me.
2  Dómine, Deus meus, clamávi ad te, * et sanásti me.
3  Dómine, eduxísti ab inférno ánimam meam: * salvásti me a descendéntibus in lacum.

I will magnify thee, O Lord, for thou hast set me up, * and not made my foes to triumph over me.
2  O Lord my God, I cried unto thee; * and thou hast healed me.
3  Thou, Lord, hast brought my soul out of hell: * thou hast saved me from them that go down to the pit.

God's mercy

4  Psállite Dómino, sancti ejus: * et confitémini memóriæ sanctitátis ejus.
5  Quóniam ira in indignatióne ejus: * et vita in voluntáte ejus.
6  Ad vésperum demorábitur fletus: * et ad matutínum lætítia.

4  Sing praises unto the Lord, O ye saints of his : and give thanks to the memory of his holiness.
5  For wrath is in his indignation : * and life in his good will.
6  Weeping may endure for a night, * but with the morning cometh joy..

Human pride

7  Ego autem dixi in abundántia mea: * Non movébor in ætérnum.
8  Dómine, in voluntáte tua, * præstitísti decóri meo virtútem.
9 Avertísti fáciem tuam a me, * et factus sum conturbátus.

7  And in my prosperity I said, * I shall never be removed.
8  Thou, Lord, in thy favour * gavest strength to my beauty.
9  Thou didst turn thy face from me, * and I was troubled.

Punishment and plea

10  Ad te, Dómine, clamábo: * et ad Deum meum deprecábor.
11  Quæ utílitas in sánguine meo, * dum descéndo in corrúptiónem?
12  Numquid confitébitur tibi pulvis, * aut annuntiábit veritátem tuam?

10  Unto thee, O Lord, will I cry; * and gat me to my Lord right humbly.
11  What profit is there in my blood, * when I go down to corruption?
12  Shall the dust give thanks unto thee? * or shall it declare thy truth?

Renewed mercy

13  Audívit Dóminus, et misértus est mei: * Dóminus factus est adjútor meus.
14  Convertísti planctum meum in gáudium mihi: * conscidísti saccum meum, et circumdedísti me lætítia:
15  Ut cantet tibi glória mea, et non compungar: * Dómine, Deus meus, in ætérnum confitébor tibi.

13  The Lord hath heard, and was merciful unto me; * the Lord became my helper.
14 Thou hast turned my mourning into joy; * thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness :
15  To the end that my glory shall sing unto thee : * O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.