The last psalm of the third Nocturn of Matins for Good Friday, Psalm 93 (94), is a warning: the God who died on the Cross for us will return in judgment.
God intervenes in the world
This psalm is a warning to all those who seem to think that God does not actually care about what we do and think. In fact the opposite is true: "The Lord knows the thoughts of men, that they are vain".
The psalm deals with the issue of those who do evil and seem to get away with it.
In particular it focuses on the all too common problem today of those who may believe there is a God, but seem to think he is indifferent to our affairs, or so all-forgiving as to counter our free will choices, and save everyone regardless of what they say, think or do.
The truth, the psalm teaches, is that God does care, does take note. He helps those who seek his aid and accept his guidance. But he is also the 'God of vengeance', the 'judge of the world' who metes out justice.
Though the wicked attacked Our Lord, God held him up:
"In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart, thy comforts have refreshed my soul....They gather them together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. But the Lord is my refuge, and my God is the strength of my confidence." (Coverdale)And in the end, justice will be done:
"He shall recompense them their wickedness, and destroy them in their own malice; yea, the Lord our God shall destroy them."
Psalm 93
Vulgate
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Douay-Rheims
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Psalmus ipsi David, quarta sabbati
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A psalm for David himself on the fourth day of the week.
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1 Deus ultiónum Dóminus: * Deus ultiónum
líbere egit.
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The
Lord is the God to whom revenge
belongs: the God of
revenge has acted freely.
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2 Exaltáre,
qui júdicas terram: * redde retributiónem supérbis.
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2 Lift
up yourself, you that judge the earth: render a reward to the proud.
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3 Usquequo
peccatóres, Dómine: * úsquequo peccatóres gloriabúntur:
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3 How
long shall sinners, O Lord:
how long shall sinners glory?
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4 Effabúntur,
et loquéntur iniquitátem: * loquéntur omnes, qui operántur injustítiam?
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3 How
long shall sinners, O Lord:
how long shall sinners glory?
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5 Pópulum
tuum, Dómine humiliavérunt: * et hereditátem tuam vexavérunt.
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5 Your
people, O Lord, they
have brought low: and they have afflicted your inheritance.
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6 Víduam
et ádvenam interfecérunt: * et pupíllos occidérunt.
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6 They
have slain the widow
and the stranger: and they have murdered the fatherless.
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7 Et
dixérunt: Non vidébit Dóminus: * nec intélliget Deus Jacob.
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7 And
they have said: The Lord
shall not see: neither shall the God of Jacob understand.
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8 Intellígite, insipiéntes in pópulo: * et
stulti, aliquándo sápite.
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8 Understand,
you senseless among the people: and, you fools, be wise at last.
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9 Qui plantávit aurem, non áudiet? * aut qui
finxit óculum, non consíderat?
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9 He
that planted the ear, shall he not hear? Or he that formed the eye, does he
not consider?
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10 Qui córripit Gentes, non árguet: * qui
docet hóminem sciéntiam?
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10 He
that chastises nations, shall he not rebuke: he that teaches man knowledge?
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11 Dóminus
scit cogitatiónes hóminum, * quóniam vanæ sunt.
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11 The
Lord knows the thoughts of men, that they are
vain.
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12 Beátus homo, quem tu erudíeris, Dómine, * et de lege
tua docúeris eum.
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12 Blessed is the man whom you shall
instruct, O Lord:
and shall teach him out of your law.
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13 Ut
mítiges ei a diébus
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13 That
you may give him rest from the evil days: till a pit
be dug for the wicked.
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14 Quia
non repéllet Dóminus plebem suam: * et hereditátem suam non derelínquet.
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14 For
the Lord will not
cast off his people: neither will he forsake his own inheritance.
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15 Quoadúsque
justítia convertátur in judícium: * et qui juxta illam omnes qui recto sunt
corde.
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15 Until
justice be turned
into judgment: and they that are near it are all the upright in heart.
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16 Quis consúrget mihi advérsus malignántes?
* aut
quis stabit mecum advérsus operántes iniquitátem?
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16 Who
shall rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who shall stand with me
against the workers of iniquity?
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17 Nisi
quia Dóminus adjúvit me: * paulo minus habitásset in inférno ánima mea.
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17 Unless
the Lord had been my
helper, my soul had
almost dwelt in hell.
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18 Si
dicébam: Motus est pes meus: * misericórdia tua, Dómine, adjuvábat me.
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18 If
I said: My foot is moved: your mercy, O Lord, assisted me.
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19 Secúndum
multitúdinem dolórum meórum in corde meo: * consolatiónes tuæ lætificavérunt
ánimam meam.
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19 According
to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, your comforts have given joy to my soul.
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20
Numquid adhæret tibi sedes iniquitátis: * qui fingis labórem in præcépto?
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20 Does
the seat of iniquity
stick to you, who frames labour in commandment?
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21 Captábunt
in ánimam justi: * et sánguinem innocéntem condemnábunt.
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21 They
will hunt after the soul
of the just, and
will condemn innocent blood.
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22 Et
factus est mihi Dóminus in refúgium: * et Deus meus in adjutórium spei meæ.
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22 But
the Lord is my
refuge: and my God
the help of my hope.
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23 Et
reddet illis iniquitátem ipsórum: et in malítia eórum dispérdet eos: * dispérdet
illos Dóminus Deus noster.
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23 And
he will render them their iniquity:
and in their malice
he will destroy them: the Lord
our God will destroy them.
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Tenebrae of Good Friday
Nocturn I: Psalms 2, 21, 26
Nocturn II: Psalms 37, 39, 53*
Nocturn III: Psalms 58, 87*, 93
Lauds: 50*, 142, 84, [Hab], 147
And you can find the next part of this series here.
Other Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm
The title of the psalm reflects its use in the Temple on Wednesdays, according to the Talmid. Selected Christian uses of the psalm are summarised below:
And you can find the next part of this series here.
Other Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm
The title of the psalm reflects its use in the Temple on Wednesdays, according to the Talmid. Selected Christian uses of the psalm are summarised below:
NT references
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Heb 10:26-31 (1); Romans 1:20, Romans 2:14-16
(10); 1 Cor 3:19-20 (11); 1 Cor 11:28-32 ; Heb 12:6 (13); Romans 11:2 (14);
Mt 27:4 (21)
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RB cursus
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Friday Matins I, 6
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Monastic feasts etc
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Good Friday Tenebrae III, 3; Sacred Heart II, 3
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Roman pre 1911
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Friday Matins
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Roman post 1911
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1911-62: Saturday Prime . 1970:
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Mass propers (EF)
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