Saturday Lauds 2

Resurrection or condemnation

The theme of God as Judge is heightened in the penitential Saturday Lauds.  We pray the Miserére with the last judgment in view.  And the stirring song of Moses fits the same sentiment.

Our prayer of penance

Confession of guilt

Miserére mei Deus, * secúndum magnam misericórdiam tuam.
2  Et secúndum multitúdinem miseratiónum tuárum, * dele iniquitátem meam.
3  Amplius lava me ab iniquitáte mea: * et a peccáto meo munda me.
4  Quóniam iniquitátem meam ego cognósco: * et peccátum meum contra me est semper.
5  Tibi soli peccávi, et malum coram te feci: * ut justificéris in sermónibus tuis, et vincas cum judicáris.
6  Ecce enim in iniquitátibus concéptus sum: * et in peccátis concépit me mater mea.
7  Ecce enim veritátem dilexísti: * incérta et occúlta sapiéntiæ tuæ manifestásti mihi.

Have mercy upon me, O God, * after thy great goodness.
2  According to the multitude of thy mercies * do away mine offences.
3  Wash me throughly from my wickedness, * and cleanse me from my sin.
4  For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is ever before me.
5  Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.
6  Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, * and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
7  But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.

Plea for inner conversion

8  Aspérges me hyssópo, et mundábor: * lavábis me, et super nivem dealbábor.
9  Auditui meo dabis gáudium et lætítiam: * et exsultábunt ossa humiliáta.
10  Avérte fáciem tuam a peccátis meis: * et omnes iniquitátes meas dele.
11  Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: * et spíritum rectum ínnova in viscéribus meis.
12  Ne projícias me a fácie tua: * et spíritum sanctum tuum ne áuferas a me.
13  Redde mihi lætítiam salutáris tui: * et spíritu principáli confírma me.

8  Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
9  Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, * that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
10  Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out all my misdeeds.
11  Make me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a right spirit within me.
12  Cast me not away from thy presence, * and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
13  O give me the comfort of thy help again, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.

Thanksgiving and a promise

14  Docébo iníquos vias tuas: * et ímpii ad te convertentur.
15  Líbera me de sanguínibus, Deus, Deus salútis meæ: * et exsultábit lingua mea justítiam tuam.
16  Dómine, lábia mea apéries: * et os meum annuntiábit laudem tuam.
17  Quóniam si voluísses sacrifícium dedíssem útique: * holocáustis non delectáberis.
18  Sacrifícium Deo spíritus contribulatus: * cor contrítum, et humiliátum, Deus non despícies.

Finale

19  Benígne fac, Dómine, in bona voluntáte tua Sion: * ut ædificéntur muri Jerúsalem.
20  Tunc acceptábis sacrifícium justítiæ, oblatiónes, et holocáusta: * tunc impónent super altáre tuum vítulos.

19  O be favourable and gracious unto Sion; * build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
20  Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations; * then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

Psalm 91.  Bonus est confiteri

Praise God, the all-just Judge

This beautifully constructed Psalm is similar in thought to the preceding one: praise God who rewards the good and punishes the wicked.  It is an apt combination of the predominant thought of the day with the theme of Lauds.

Praise God's goodness and faithfulness

Bonum est confitéri Dómino: * et psállere nómini tuo, Altíssime.
2  Ad annuntiándum mane misericórdiam tuam: * et veritátem tuam per noctem.
3  In decachórdo, psaltério: * cum cántico, in cíthara.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, * and to sing praises unto thy Name, O Most Highest;
2  To tell of thy loving-kindness early in the morning, * and of thy truth in the night season;
3  Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the lute; * with a canticle, and upon the harp.

God's wisdom

4  Quia delectásti me, Dómine, in factúra tua: * et in opéribus mánuum tuárum exsultábo.
5  Quam magnificáta sunt ópera tua, Dómine! * nimis profúndæ factæ sunt cogitatiónes tuæ.
6  Vir insípiens non cognóscet: * et stultus non intélliget hæc.

4  For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy works; * and I will rejoice in the operations of thy hands.
5  O Lord, how glorious are thy works! * thy thoughts are exceeding deep.
6  The unwise man doth not know, * nor will the fool understand these things.

In the life of the godless

7  Cum exorti fúerint peccatóres sicut fœnum: * et apparúerint omnes, qui operántur iniquitátem.
8  Ut intéreant in sæculum sæculi: * tu autem Altíssimus in ætérnum, Dómine.
9  Quóniam ecce inimíci tui, Dómine, quóniam ecce inimíci tui períbunt: * et dispergéntur omnes, qui operántur iniquitátem.

7  When the ungodly shall spring up as the grass, * and all the workers of wickedness shall appear.
8  That they may perish for ever and ever : * but thou, Lord, art the Most Highest for evermore.
9  For lo, thine enemies, O Lord, lo, thine enemies shall perish; * and all the workers of wickedness shall be destroyed.

In the life of the godly

10  Et exaltábitur sicut unicórnis cornu meum: * et senéctus mea in misericórdia úberi.
11  Et despéxit óculus meus inimícos meos: * et in insurgéntibus in me malignántibus áudiet auris mea.
12  Justus, ut palma florébit: * sicut cedrus Líbani multiplicábitur.

10  But my horn shall be exalted like the horn of an unicorn; * and my old age in plentiful mercy.
11  Mine eye also hath looked down upon mine enemies, * and mine ear shall hear of the downfall of the wicked that arise up against me.
12  The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree, * and shall spread abroad like a cedar in Lebanon.

Finale

13  Plantáti in domo Dómini, *  in átriis domus Dei nostri florébunt.
14  Adhuc multiplicabúntur in senécta úberi: * et bene patiéntes erunt,  ut annúntient:
15  Quóniam rectus Dóminus, Deus noster: * et non est iníquitas in eo.

13  They that are planted in the house of the Lord, * shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God.
14  They shall still increase in a fruitful old age, * and shall be well treated, that they may declare :
15  That the Lord our God is righteous, * and there is no iniquity in him.

Harmless blows of the sinner

This Psalm portrays God's final judgment over his enemies and the utter uselessness of all their efforts to harm the just.  The song should give us courage and confidence in fighting the battles of the kingdom.  The most powerful illustration of the Psalm's theme is the contrast between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, between the designs of the high priests and the Resurrection of our Lord.

Plea for protection

Exáudi, Deus, oratiónem meam cum deprecor: * a timóre inimíci éripe ánimam meam.
2  Protexísti me a convéntu malignántium: * a multitúdine operántium iniquitátem 3  Quia exacuérunt ut gládium linguas suas: * intendérunt arcum rem amáram, ut sagíttent in occúltis immaculátum.
4  Súbito sagittábunt eum, et non timébunt: * firmavérunt sibi sermónem nequam.

Hear my prayer, O God, when I make supplication to thee : * preserve my soul from the fear of the enemy.
2  Thou hast protected me from the gathering together of the froward, * and from the multitude of wicked doers.
3  Who have whet their tongue like a sword, * and have bent their bow a bitter thing, to shoot out their arrows in secret at the undefiled.
4  They shall shoot at him on a sudden, and shall not fear : * they are resolute in wickedness.

Human plans and God's wisdom

5  Narravérunt ut abscónderent láqueos: * dixérunt: Quis vidébit eos?
6  Scrutáti sunt iniquitátes: * defecérunt scrutántes scrutínio.
7  Accédet homo ad cor altum: * et exaltábitur Deus.
8  Sagíttæ parvulórum factæ sunt plagæ eórum: * et infirmátæ sunt contra eos linguæ eórum.

5  They have communed among themselves, how they may lay snares; * and they have said, Who shall see them?
6  They have searched after wickedness : * they have failed in their search.
7  Man shall come to the deep of his heart : * and God shall be exalted.
8  The arrows of children are their wounds : * yea, their tongues shall make them fall.

Salutary lesson

9  Conturbáti sunt omnes qui vidébant eos: * et tímuit omnis homo.
10  Et annuntiavérunt ópera Dei, * et facta ejus intellexérunt.
11  Lætábitur justus in Dómino, et sperábit in eo: * et laudabúntur omnes recti corde.

9  All they that saw them were troubled : * and every man feared.
10  And they have declared the works of God : * and understood that which he hath done.
11  The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord, and put his trust in him; * and all they that are true of heart shall be glad.

Canticle of Moses
Audite, cæli
Deut. 32. 1

This is the Song of Moses taking leave of his people just before his death.   It is a highly poetic song, portraying God's justice and fidelity towards his chosen people in stirring words and portraits.  We can interpret the song for our own lives as God's constant paternal care over all his children; nor will we fail to recognize our own infidelity to God.

Exhortation to listen

Audíte, cæli, quæ loquor: * audiat terra verba oris mei.
2  Concrescat ut plúvia doctrína mea, * fluat ut ros elóquium meum.
3  Quasi imber super herbam, et quasi stillæ super gramina. * Quia nomen Dómini invocabo.

Give ear, O ye heavens, that I may speak : * let the earth hearken to the words of my mouth.
2  O that my doctrine might gather as the rain, * and my speech distil as the dew.
3  Even as the mist upon the grass, and as showers upon the little herbs, * for I will call upon the Name of the Lord.

God's praise

4  Date magnificéntiam Deo nostro. * Dei perfécta sunt opera, et omnes viæ ejus judícia:
5  Deus fidélis, et absque ulla iniquitáte, justus et rectus. * Peccavérunt ei, non fílii ejus in sordibus:

4  Supreme majesty ascribe ye unto our God. * The works of God are perfect, and all his ways are judgments.
5  God is faithful, and without any deceit, righteous and true. * They have sinned against him, and are none of his children in their filth.

Infidelity

6  Generátio prava atque perversa. * Hæccine reddis Dómino, popule stulte et insípiens?
7  Numquid non ipse est pater tuus, * qui possedit te, et fecit, et creávit te?
8  Meménto diérum antiquórum, * cogita generatiónes síngulas:
9  Interroga patrem tuum, et annuntiábit tibi: * majores tuos, et dicent tibi.

6  They are a wicked and perverse generation. * Is this the way to requite the Lord, O ye foolish and senseless people? 7  Is not he thy Father, * that hath possessed thee, and made thee, and created thee?
8  Remember the days of old, * think upon every generation.
9  Ask thy father, and he will shew thee, * thine elders and they will tell thee.

God's paternal love

10  Quando dividébat Altíssimus Gentes: * quando separabat fílios Adam.
11  Constítuit términos populórum * juxta númerum filiórum Israel.
12  Pars autem Dómini, pópulus ejus: * Jacob funiculus hereditátis ejus.
13  Invenit eum in terra desérta, * in loco horroris et vastæ solitúdinis:
14  Circumduxit eum, et dócuit: * et custodívit quasi pupíllam óculi sui.
15  Sicut aquila provocans ad volándum pullos suos, * et super eos volitans,
16  Expándit alas suas, et assúmpsit eum, * atque portávit in humeris suis.
17  Dóminus solus dux ejus fuit: * et non erat cum eo deus alienus.
18  Constítuit eum super excélsam terram: * ut coméderet fructus agrórum,
19  Ut sugeret mel de petra, * óleumque de saxo duríssimo.
20  Butyrum de armento, et lac de ovibus * cum ádipe agnórum, et aríetum filiórum Basan:
21  Et hircos cum medulla tritici, * et sánguinem uvæ biberet meracíssimum.

10  When the Most High divided the nations, * when he separated the sons of Adam.
11  He set the bounds of the people * according to the number of the children of Israel.
12  But the portion of the Lord is his people : * yea, Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
13  He found them in a desert land, * in a place of horror, and of a vast wilderness.
14  He led him about, and taught him : * and he kept him as the apple of his eye.
15  Like an eagle that enticeth her young to fly, * and hovering over them,
16  He hath spread forth his wings, and hath taken him, * and hath carried him aloft on his pinions.
17  The Lord alone did lead them, * and there was no strange god with him.
18  He set him upon the high places of the earth, * that he might eat the fruits of the fields,
19  That he might suck honey out of the rock, * and oil out of the flinty stones.
20  Butter of the herd, and milk of the sheep, * with the fat of lambs and rams of the breed of Bashan.
21  And goats with the marrow of wheat: * and that he might drink the purest blood of the grape.

Ingratitude

22  Incrassátus est diléctus, et recalcitrávit: * incrassatus, impinguatus, dilatatus,
23  Derelíquit Deum, factórem suum, * et recéssit a Deo, salutári suo.
24  Provocavérunt eum in diis aliénis, * et in abominatiónibus ad iracúndiam concitavérunt.
25  Immolavérunt dæmoniis, et non Deo, * diis, quos ignorábant:
26  Novi recentésque venérunt, * quos non coluérunt patres eórum.
27  Deum qui te génuit dereliquísti, * et oblítus es Dómini, creatoris tui.

22  The beloved did wax fat and kick; * yea, he waxed fat, and thick, and gross.
23  He forsook the God that made him, * and departed from the God of his salvation.
24  They provoked him with strange gods, * and with abominations stirred they him up to anger.
25  They sacrificed to devils, and not to God, * to gods whom they knew not.
26  That came newly up, * whom their fathers worshipped not.
27  Thou hast forsaken the God that begat thee, * and hast forgotten the God that created thee.

God, moved to anger, judges and punishes the ungodly

28  Vidit Dóminus, et ad iracúndiam concitátus est: * quia provocavérunt eum fílii sui et fíliæ.
29  Et ait: Abscóndam fáciem meam ab eis, * et considerábo novíssima eórum:
30  Generátio enim perversa est, * et infidéles fílii.
31  Ipsi me provocavérunt in eo, qui non erat Deus, * et irritavérunt in vanitátibus suis:
32  Et ego provocábo eos in eo, qui non est pópulus, * et in gente stulta irritábo illos.
33  Ignis succénsus est in furóre meo, * et ardébit usque ad inferni novíssima:
34  Devorabitque terram cum germine suo, * et móntium fundaménta combúret.
35  Congregábo super eos mala, * et sagíttas meas complébo in eis.
36  Consuméntur fame, * et devorábunt eos aves morsu amaríssimo:
37  Dentes bestiárum immittam in eos, * cum furóre trahéntium super terram, atque serpéntium.
38  Foris vastábit eos gládius, et intus pavor, * juvenem simul ac vírginem, lactántem cum hómine sene.

28  The Lord saw, and was moved to wrath : * because his own sons and daughters provoked him.
29  And he said : I will hide my face from them, * and will consider what their last end shall be.
30  For they are a perverse generation, * and unfaithful children.
31  They have provoked me with that which is not God, * and they have vexed me with their vanities.
32  And them also will I provoke with that which is not a people; * and with a foolish nation will I vex them.
33  A fire is kindled in mine anger, * and it shall burn to the depths of the grave.
34  And it shall consume the earth with her increase, * and shall burn the foundations of the mountains.
35  I will heap evils upon them, * and I will spend mine arrows among them.
36  They shall be consumed with hunger, * and the birds shall devour them with a most bitter bite.
37  The teeth of wild beasts will I send against them, * with the fury of creatures that trail upon the ground, and of serpents.
38  Without, the sword shall lay them waste, and terror within : * both the young man and the maiden alike, the suckling child also with them of gray hairs.

God laments the ignorance of men

39  Dixi: Ubinam sunt? * cessare fáciam ex homínibus memóriam eórum.
40  Sed propter iram inimicórum dístuli: * ne forte supérbirent hostes eórum,
41  Et dicerent : Manus nostra excélsa, et non Dóminus, * fecit hæc ómnia.
42  Gens absque consílio est, et sine prudéntia. * Utinam saperent, et intellígerent, ac novíssima providérent.
43  Quómodo persequátur unus mille, * et duo fugent decem míllia?
44  Nonne ideo, quia Deus suus vendidit eos, * et Dóminus conclúsit illos?
45  Non enim est Deus noster ut dii eórum: * et inimíci nostri sunt júdices.
46  De vinea Sodomórum vinea eórum, * et de suburbanis Gomorrhæ:
47  Uva eórum uva fellis, * et botri amaríssimi.
48  Fel dracónum vinum eórum, * et venénum áspidum insanábile.

39  I said: Where are they now?  * I will make the memory of them to cease from among men.
40  But for the wrath of the enemy I have deferred it, * lest perhaps their enemies might be proud,
41  And should say: Our mighty hand, and not the Lord, * hath done all these things.
42  They are a nation bereft of counsel, and without wisdom, * O that they would be wise, and would understand, that they would provide for their latter end.
43  How should one man pursue a thousand, * and two put ten thousand to flight?
44  Was it not because their God had sold them, * and the Lord had shut them up?
45  For our God is not as their gods, * and our enemies themselves are the judges.
46  Their vines are of the vineyard of Sodom, * and of the fields of Gomorrah.
47  Their grapes are grapes of gall, * and their clusters are most bitter.
48  Their wine is the gall of dragons, * yea, the deadly venom of asps.

God will soon judge the ungodly

49  Nonne hæc condita sunt apud me, * et signáta in thesáuris meis?
50  Mea est ultio, et ego retríbuam in témpore, * ut labátur pes eórum:
51  Juxta est dies perditiónis, * et adesse festinant témpora.

49  Are not these things stored up with me, * and sealed up among my treasures?
50  Vengeance is mine, and I will repay them in due time, * that their foot may slide.
51  The day of destruction is at hand, * and the time maketh haste to come.

God will judge his people

52  Judicábit Dóminus pópulum suum, * et in servis suis miserébitur:
53  Vidébit quod infirmáta sit manus, * et clausi quoque defecérunt, residuique consumpti sunt.

52  Yea, the Lord shall judge his people, * and shall take pity upon his servants.
53  He shall see that their hand is weakened; * and that they who were shut up have also failed, and they that remained are consumed.

God reminds his people that he alone is the Lord

54  Et dicet: Ubi sunt dii eórum, * in quibus habébant fiduciam?
55  De quorum victimis comedébant ádipes, * et bibébant vinum libaminum:
56  Surgant, et opituléntur vobis, * et in necessitate vos prótegant.
57  Vidéte quod ego sim solus, * et non sit alius Deus præter me:
58  Ego occidam, et ego vivere fáciam: percutiam, et ego sanábo, * et non est qui de manu mea possit eruere.
59  Levábo ad cælum manum meam, et dicam: * Vivo ego in ætérnum.

54  And he shall say, Where are now their gods, * in whom they have put their trust?
55 Of whom they did eat the fat of their sacrifices, * and drank the wine of their drink offerings.
56  Let the same rise up and help you, * and be your protection in your distress.
57  See ye that I alone am, * and there is none other God but me.
58  I will slay, and I will make to live; I will strike, and I will heal; * and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
59  I will lift up my hand to heaven and say: * I live for ever.

Punishment of the ungodly

60  Si acuero ut fulgur gládium meum, * et arripúerit judícium manus mea :
61  Reddam ultiónem hostibus meis, * et his qui odérunt me retríbuam.
62  Inebriábo sagíttas meas sánguine, * et gládius meus devorábit carnes,
63  De cruore occisórum, * et de captívitate, nudáti inimicórum cápitis.

60  If I shall whet my sword as the lightning, * and mine hand take hold on judgment,
61  I will render vengeance to mine enemies, * and will reward them that hate me.
62  With blood will I make mine arrows drunken, * and my sword shall devour flesh.
63  Of the blood of the slain, * and of the captivity, yea, of the bare head of the enemy.

Finale

64  Laudáte, Gentes, pópulum ejus, * quia sánguinem servórum suórum ulciscétur:
65  Et vindíctam retríbuet in hostes eórum, * et propítius erit terræ pópuli sui.

64  Praise his people, O ye Gentiles, * for he will avenge the blood of his servants.
65  And he will render vengeance unto their enemies, * and he will be merciful unto the land of his people.

Praise the Lord

This is the final Psalm of the Psalter, a note of unrestrained exultation: "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord."

God's praise in song

Laudáte Dóminum in sanctis ejus: * laudáte eum in firmaménto virtútis ejus.
2  Laudáte eum in virtútibus ejus: * laudáte eum secúndum multitúdinem magnitúdinis ejus.

O praise the Lord in his sanctuary : * praise him in the firmament of his power.
2  Praise him in his mighty acts: * praise him according to the multitude of his greatness.

God's praise in instruments

3  Laudáte eum in sono tubæ: * laudáte eum in psaltério, et cíthara.
4  Laudáte eum in tympano, et choro: * laudáte eum in chordis, et órgano.
5  Laudáte eum in cymbalis benesonántibus: laudáte eum in cymbalis jubilatiónis: * omnis spíritus laudet Dóminum.

3  Praise him in the sound of the trumpet : * praise him upon the lute and harp.
4  Praise him in the timbrels and choir : * praise him upon the strings and organs.
5  Praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals: praise him upon the cymbals of joy : * let every spirit praise the Lord.