The Penitential Psalms - Psalm 50/8 - verses 17-18

Caravaggio: The sacrifice of Isaac

Verses 17 and 18 of Psalm 50 draw out a lesson that is repeated over and over in both the Old Testament and the New, and that is that what God desires most from us is a contrite spirit, not sacrificial offerings.

The Fathers see these verses as foreshadowing the ending of animal sacrifices to God, to be replaced by the one sacrifice of Christ.  But they also point to a deeper truth, namely that even the sacrifice of the Mass will have no benefit for us if we do not have the right dispositions.  Instead of focusing on how many times we receive the Eucharist, for example, we must concentrate on receiving it as fervently as possible when we do, for the grace in the Eucharist is infinite, but the capacity to receive it depends on us.

17	V	Quóniam si voluísses sacrifícium dedíssem útique: * holocáustis non delectáberis.
	NV	Non enim sacrificio delectaris; holocaustum, si offeram, non placebit.
	JH	Non enim uis ut uictimam feriam, nec holocaustum tibi placet.
		ὅτι εἰ ἠθέλησας θυσίαν ἔδωκα ἄν ὁλοκαυτώματα οὐκ εὐδοκήσεις

utique, adv., surely, certainly, verily, indeed.

holocaustum, i, n. sc. sacrificium, a sacrifice or offering wholly consumed by fire, a whole burnt-offering, a holocaust.

delecto, avi, atum, are to delight, gladden, rejoice.

DR	For if you had desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings you will not be delighted.
Brenton	For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings.
RSV	For thou hast no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, thou wouldst not be pleased.
Cover	For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee; but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.

St Augustine explains the importance of a contrite spirit, and the offering of a sacrifice of praise:

David was living at that time when sacrifices of victim animals were offered to God, and he saw these times that were to be. Do we not perceive ourselves in these words? Those sacrifices were figurative, foretelling the One Saving Sacrifice. Not even we have been left without a Sacrifice to offer to God. For hear what he says, having a concern for his sin, and wishing the evil thing which he has done to be forgiven him: If You had willed, he says, sacrifice, I would have given it surely. With holocausts You will not be delighted. Nothing shall we therefore offer? So shall we come to God? And whence shall we propitiate Him? Offer; certainly in yourself you have what you may offer. Do not from without fetch frankincense, but say, In me are, O God, Your vows, which I will render of praise to You. Do not from without seek cattle to slay, you have in yourself what you may kill.

18	V/NV	Sacrifícium Deo spíritus contribulátus: * cor contrítum, et humiliátum, Deus non despícies.
	JH	Sacrificium Dei spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.
		θυσία τῷ θεῷ πνεῦμα συντετριμμένον καρδίαν συντετριμμένην καὶ τεταπεινωμένην ὁ θεὸς οὐκ ἐξουθενώσει

contribulo, avi, atum, are  to crush, shatter; participle, contribulatus, a, um, afflicted, troubled, chastened.

despicio, spexi, spectum, ere 3 to look away from, not to look at, to slight; to despise; to look down upon

DR	A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not despise.
Brenton	Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.
Cover	The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.

Cyprian of Carthage explains that we must continuously offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God:

But there cannot be felt any loss of either religion or faith, most beloved brethren, in the fact that now there is given no opportunity there to God’s priests for offering and celebrating the divine sacrifices; yea, you celebrate and offer a sacrifice to God equally precious and glorious, and that will greatly profit you for the retribution of heavenly rewards, since the sacred Scripture speaks, saying, “The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit; a contrite and humbled heart God doth not despise.”You offer this sacrifice to God; you celebrate this sacrifice without intermission day and night, being made victims to God, and exhibiting yourselves as holy and unspotted offerings, as the apostle exhorts and says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Letter 76

Psalm 50: Miserere me Deus 

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
In finem. Psalmus David cum venit ad eum Nathan propheta, quando intravit ad Bethsabee.	Unto the end, a psalm of David, 2 when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had sinned with Bethsabee.
1 Miserére mei Deus, * secúndum magnam misericórdiam tuam.	Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy.
2  Et secúndum multitúdinem miseratiónum tuárum, * dele iniquitátem meam.	And according to the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my iniquity.
3  Amplius lava me ab iniquitáte mea: * et a peccáto meo munda me.	Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
4  Quóniam iniquitátem meam ego cognósco: * et peccátum meum contra me est semper.	For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.
5  Tibi soli peccávi, et malum coram te feci: * ut justificéris in sermónibus tuis, et vincas cum judicáris.	To you only have I sinned, and have done evil before you: that you may be justified in your words, and may overcome when you are judged.
6  Ecce enim in iniquitátibus concéptus sum: * et in peccátis concépit me mater mea.	For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me.
7  Ecce enim veritátem dilexísti: * incérta et occúlta sapiéntiæ tuæ manifestásti mihi.	For behold you have loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of your wisdom you have made manifest to me.
8  Aspérges me hyssópo, et mundábor: * lavábis me, et super nivem dealbábor.	You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: you shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
9  Audítui meo dabis gáudium et lætítiam: * et exsultábunt ossa humiliáta.	To my hearing you shall give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.
10  Avérte fáciem tuam a peccátis meis: * et omnes iniquitátes meas dele.	Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
11  Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: * et spíritum rectum ínnova in viscéribus meis.	Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.
12  Ne projícias me a fácie tua: * et spíritum sanctum tuum ne áuferas a me.	Cast me not away from your face; and take not your holy spirit from me.
13  Redde mihi lætítiam salutáris tui: * et spíritu principáli confírma me.	Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.
14  Docébo iníquos vias tuas: * et ímpii ad te converténtur.	I will teach the unjust your ways: and the wicked shall be converted to you.
15  Líbera me de sanguínibus, Deus, Deus salútis meæ: * et exsultábit lingua mea justítiam tuam.	Deliver me from blood, O God, you God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol your justice.
16  Dómine, lábia mea apéries: * et os meum annuntiábit laudem tuam.	O Lord, you will open my lips: and my mouth shall declare your praise.
17  Quóniam si voluísses sacrifícium dedíssem útique: * holocáustis non delectáberis.	For if you had desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings you will not be delighted.
18  Sacrifícium Deo spíritus contribulátus: * cor contrítum, et humiliátum, Deus non despícies.	A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not despise.
19  Benígne fac, Dómine, in bona voluntáte tua Sion: * ut ædificéntur muri Jerúsalem.	Deal favourably, O Lord, in your good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.
20  Tunc acceptábis sacrifícium justítiæ, oblatiónes, et holocáusta: * tunc impónent super altáre tuum vítulos.	Then shall you accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon your altar.

You can find the next part in this series on Psalm 50 here.