Psalm 113: 10b-11

The next section of Psalm 113 sets up the contrast between God and false idols:

nequándo dicant gentes: Ubi est Deus eórum? Deus autem noster in cælo: * ómnia quæcúmque vóluit, fecit.

The Douay-Rheims translates this as:

lest the Gentiles should say: Where is their God? But our God is in heaven: he has done all things whatsoever he would. 

Lectio

nequando (Lest, let not) dicant (subj they may/should/might say) gentes (the gentiles): Ubi (where) est (is) Deus (the God) eorum (of them)? Deus (God) autem (but) noster (our) in cælo (in heaven) omnia (all) quæcumque (whatsoever) voluit (he has wished) fecit (he has done) 

The Neo-Vulgate changes dicant (subjunctive) to dicent (future) to align it more closely with the Hebrew, reflected the Coverdale translation, which says 'Wherefore shall the heathen say, Where is now their God?'.  But the Vulgate reflects the Greek, and the subjunctive, reflected in Brenton's 'lest at any time the nations should say, Where is their God?', arguably makes more sense. Indeed, the best version is perhaps the Knox, which takes its lead from the previous comment about God's glory, and makes it: 'why must the heathen say, Their God deserts them? Our God is a God that dwells in heaven; all that his will designs, he executes'.

nequando, conj., (ne quando, for ne aliquando), lest, that not, lest at any time. 
quacumque - by whatever way, wherever, wheresoever
volo, volui, velle, to will, wish, desire; to have pleasure or delight in, to love, hold dear, desire. 

Meditatio

The verse starts from the problem posed by unbelievers, who want a visible sign that God exists, and who taunt Christians, as they taunted Christ on the Cross, as to why our God doesn't act to rescue us.   How should we answer them?

The answer provided here is that God is outside time and space, in heaven.  But we can know him through his works, for he is all-powerful, acting when he wills to do so.

Second section of Psalm 113:

9  Non nobis, Dómine, non nobis: * sed nómini tuo da glóriam.	9 Not to us, O Lord, not to us; but to your name give glory.
10  Super misericórdia tua, et veritáte tua: * nequándo dicant gentes: Ubi est Deus eórum?	10 For your mercy, and for your truth's sake: lest the Gentiles should say: Where is their God?
11  Deus autem noster in cælo: * ómnia quæcúmque vóluit, fecit.	11 But our God is in heaven: he has done all things whatsoever he would.
12  Simulácra géntium argéntum, et aurum, * ópera mánuum hóminum.	12 The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the works of the hands of men.
13  Os habent, et non loquéntur: * óculos habent, et non vidébunt.	14 They have ears and hear not: they have noses and smell not.
14  Aures habent, et non áudient: * nares habent, et non odorábunt.	14 They have ears and hear not: they have noses and smell not.
15  Manus habent, et non palpábunt: pedes habent, et non ambulábunt: * non clamábunt in gútture suo.	15 They have hands and feel not: they have feet and walk not: neither shall they cry out through their throat.
16  Símiles illis fiant qui fáciunt ea: * et omnes qui confídunt in eis.	16 Let them that make them become like unto them: and all such as trust in them.

The next set of notes in this series on Psalm 113 can be found here.