Today’s section of Psalm 118 (119), verses 41 to 48, enjoin us to move beyond merely contemplating the law to action: in particular, to testifying publicly to our faith.
Here they are first of all in the Knox translation:
41 For me too, Lord, thy mercy, for me too the deliverance thou hast promised!
42 Fit answer for those who taunt me, that I rely on thy truth.
43 Faithful thy promise, let me not boast in vain; in thy covenant lies my hope.
44 For ever and for evermore true to thy charge thou shalt find me.
45 Freely shall my feet tread, if thy will is all my quest.
46 Fearlessly will I talk of thy decrees in the presence of kings, and be never abashed.
47 Fain would I have all my comfort in the law I love.
48 Flung wide my arms to greet thy law, ever in my thoughts thy bidding.
The promise of redemption
The stanza opens by reminding us of the promise of salvation: it prophesies firstly the coming of Christ, to fulfill God’s promises in the Old Testament, and secondly invites us individually to make it our own.
It should remind us of Christ’s promise to be with us always, able to draw on grace when we are confronted by those speaking heresy or otherwise attacking us.
Be brave!
We all, be we laymen or laywomen, priests, bishops or religious, have a duty to speak up, these verses instruct.
As Cassiodorus commented:
Verse by verse - Vau/Vav/waw
41 Et veniat super me misericordia tua, Domine; salutare tuum secundum eloquium tuum.
Let your mercy also come upon me, O Lord: your salvation according to your word
Et veniat (subj) super me = And let it [your mercy] come over me
venio, veni, ventum, ire, to come.
super +acc=above, upon, over, in, on;+abl= about, concerning; with, on, upon, for, because of.
misericordia tua, Domine = your mercy O Lord
misericordia, ae,, mercy, kindness, favor, compassion, loving-kindness.
salutare tuum =your salvation
salutaris, e Savior, Helper, used of God; help, saving help, rescue, salvation,
secundum eloquium tuum = according to your word/promise
secundus, a, um following in time or order; the next, the second.
eloquium, ii, n. , a word, oracle, speech, utterance, promise.
We are, the Fathers point out, the children of God’s promise: his promise first to send salvation to his people in the form of a Messiah, and secondly, of the promise of his saving help offered to anyone who prays in the name of Christ. Here we are once more invited to make the salvation God offers our own.
42 Et respondebo exprobrantibus mihi verbum, quia speravi in sermonibus tuis.
So shall I answer them that reproach me in anything; that I have trusted in your words.
Et respondebo= And/So I will respond/answer
respondeo, spondi, sponsum, ere 2, to answer, respond
exprobrantibus mihi verbum = reviling/upbraiding/reproach to me to me the word = to those who reproach me a word/answer
These two phrases are difficult to translate. The use of the ‘verbum’ (and λόγον in the Greek, making it accusative) suggests that the correct translation is “And I will give an answer to those who revile me”.
St Augustine, however, comments: “It is doubtful whether it be ‘reproach me with a word’; or, ‘I will answer with a word’; but either signifies Christ. The Douay-Rheims favours the first interpretation; Brenton, the New English Translation of the Septuagint, and translations based on the Hebrew the second. The RSV, for example, translates the phrase as “then shall I have an answer for those who taunt me”.
exprobo are avi atum – to upbraid, reproach, revile
quia speravi in sermonibus tuis = that I have hoped/trusted in your words
verbum, i, n.,word, command, edict, also a promise; saying, speech
spero, avi, atum, are, to hope or trust in
sermo, onis, m. words; a command, edict word, speech, saying, discourse; scheme, plan, proposal
Those ignorant of Christ are not content just to tolerate; rather they attack. But we are told not to keep silent, but to respond, for we have Christ with us to help us do so. Cassiodorus insists that when confronted by heresy and error, when we are confronted by the guile of adversaries:“We must not be silent before those able to listen to reason, but we must respond bravely so that the audacity of men of ill-will does not appear victorious in their eyes.”
43 Et ne auferas de ore meo verbum veritatis usquequaque, quia in judiciis tuis supersperavi.
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth: for in your words, I have hoped exceedingly
Et ne auferas = And do not destroy/take away
aufero, abstuli, ablatum, auferre to take or bear away; to destroy.
de ore meo = from my mouth
os, oris, n., the mouth.
verbum veritatis = the word of truth
verbum, i, n.,word, command, edict, also a promise; saying, speech; Law
veritas, atis, truth. grace, kindness ,goodness, fidelity to promises, Faithfulness
usquequaque = utterly
usquequaque, adv., utterly, altogether, exceedingly
quia in judiciis tuis supersperavi = because in your justice I have hoped greatly
quia, conj. for, because, that. truly, surely, indeed;
judicium, i, n. judgment, decrees; law, commandment; the power, or faculty of judging wisely; justice.
superspero, avi, atum, are, with prep, in with the ace. or abl., to hope or trust in greatly.
This verse is a prayer for constancy: that we may not fail for a want of courage or pride that causes God to withdraw his grace.
44 Et custodiam legem tuam semper, in sæculum et in sæculum sæculi.
So shall I always keep your law, for ever and ever.
Et custodiam legem tuam semper= And I will keep your law always
custodio, ivi or li, itum, ire to guard, watch, keep;to maintain, to hold steadfastly.
lex, legis, a law; the Law of God. the will of God
semper, adv., ever, always, at all times.
in sæculum et in sæculum sæculi = forever and ever into eternity
saeculum, i, n., a lifetime, generation, age; an indefinite period of time; forever, eternity; from of old, i.e., in ages past.
Bellarmine comments: “He now tells us the effect of the mercy that so heals the soul, and that is the perpetual observance of God's law.”
45 Et ambulabam in latitudine, quia mandata tua exquisivi.
And I walked at large: because I have sought after your commandments
Et ambulabam (impf) = And I was walking
Note that the neo-Vulgate changes the verb to future tense (ambulabo)
ambulo, avi, atum, are to walk; the manner in which one orders one's life;
in latitudine = in freedom/at liberty/at large
latitudo, inis, f breadth, wideness, spaciousness, freedom, gladness With verbs of motion it implies freedom from restraint, and conveys the additional idea of gladness.
quia mandata tua exquisivi = because I have sought your commandments
mandatum, i, n. law, precept, command, commandment (of God); commandments, precepts, decrees
exquiro quaesivi itum ere 3, to seek, seek after
Here we come to the true sense of the term ‘freedom’: true freedom means not the option of rejecting of God’s way, but through the power of love, the ability to do God’s will easily.
46 Et loquebar in testimoniis tuis in conspectu regum, et non confundebar.
And I spoke of your testimonies before kings: and I was not ashamed.
Et loquebar = And I spoke
loquor, locutus sum, loqui, to speak, utter, tell
in testimoniis tuis = in your testimonies
testimonium, ii, n. witness, testimony; the Law; precepts, commandments, ordinances, statutes, judgments, testimonies.
in conspectu regum = in the presence of kings
conspectus, us, m. sight, presence;
rex, regis, m. a king, ruler, lawgiver
et non confundebar (impf passive) = and I was not discomforted
confundo, fudi, fiisum, ere 3, to put or bring to shame, to discomfit.
Haydock’s Catholic Commentary notes that: “Thus many even of the female sex have professed their faith boldly, with St. Agnes, St. Catharine, St. Winefrid, &c., answering the reproachful objections that were put to them, as if it were dishonourable to be a Christian, Catholic or Papist.”
47 Et meditabar in mandatis tuis, quæ dilexi.
I meditated also on your commandments, which I loved.
Et meditabar = and I was meditating/thinking
meditor, atus sum, ari, to think, plan, devise, meditate
in mandatis tuis = on your commandments
mandatum, i, n. law, precept, command, commandment (of God); commandments, precepts, decrees
quæ dilexi= which I have loved
Note that the Septuagint adds ‘exceedingly’ to the phrase, to reinforce the sense of fervour suggested here.
diligo, lexi, lectum, ere 3 to love;
Cassiodorus comments:
“A person can never neglect what he loves. Then, in case you perhaps regarded even this love as lukewarm, they added: Exceedingly; no love can be found greater than this. Love of the Lord's commandments cannot be modest like any other love; it must be enthusiastic, as is the aim here. So they rightly loved the Lord's commandments exceedingly, for they walked trustingly in breadth of heart.”
48 Et levavi manus meas ad mandata tua, quæ dilexi, et exercebar in justificationibus tuis.
And I lifted up my hands to your commandments, which I loved: and I was exercised in your justifications.
Et levavi manus meas = And I lifted up my hands
The commentaries suggest that lifting up hands means taking on an active role. Cassidorus for example says:
“In the previous verse they said I meditated on thy commandments, which relates to contemplative virtue, but now they say: I will lift up my hands, which relates to the active role, for raising the hands denotes being occupied in good works, whereas the person detained in evil actions lowers rather than raises his hands.”
levo, avi, atum, are to rise, lift up, elevate.
manus, us, f, the hand
ad mandata tua quæ dilexi =to your commandments which I loved
mandatum, i, n. law, precept, command, commandment (of God); commandments, precepts, decrees
diligo, lexi, lectum, ere 3 to love;
et exercebar in justificationibus tuis =and was pondering your precepts
exerceo, cui, citum, ere 2 to exercise, work at, employ one's self about a thing; ponder, to meditate on, be occupied or employed
justificatio, onis, f precepts, decrees, statutes, ordinances;
We are called upon here to put our meditation into action, through good works: we must join together heart, mind, word, and deed.
Scriptural and liturgical uses of the stanza
Here they are first of all in the Knox translation:
41 For me too, Lord, thy mercy, for me too the deliverance thou hast promised!
42 Fit answer for those who taunt me, that I rely on thy truth.
43 Faithful thy promise, let me not boast in vain; in thy covenant lies my hope.
44 For ever and for evermore true to thy charge thou shalt find me.
45 Freely shall my feet tread, if thy will is all my quest.
46 Fearlessly will I talk of thy decrees in the presence of kings, and be never abashed.
47 Fain would I have all my comfort in the law I love.
48 Flung wide my arms to greet thy law, ever in my thoughts thy bidding.
The promise of redemption
The stanza opens by reminding us of the promise of salvation: it prophesies firstly the coming of Christ, to fulfill God’s promises in the Old Testament, and secondly invites us individually to make it our own.
It should remind us of Christ’s promise to be with us always, able to draw on grace when we are confronted by those speaking heresy or otherwise attacking us.
Be brave!
We all, be we laymen or laywomen, priests, bishops or religious, have a duty to speak up, these verses instruct.
As Cassiodorus commented:
“We must not be silent before those able to listen to reason, but we must respond bravely so that the audacity of men of ill-will does not appear victorious in their eyes…. They spoke of the Lord's testimonies because they had sought and accepted them so as to reply to those who reproached them with the word. With the strength of this support, they say that they were not confused in the presence of earthly kings who could inspire terror with their proud power, but with fearless speech uttered the truth which they had conceived in mind. It is the person whose words are refuted by reasoning who is confounded, whereas no-one can be embarrassed who is strengthened by the testimony of truth. Whatever the pressure of circumstances, we must not deny Him who says: He that shall deny me before men, I will deny him also before my Father who is in heaven.”The text of the psalm
Vulgate
|
Douay-Rheims
|
41 Et véniat super me misericórdia tua,
Dómine: * salutáre tuum secúndum elóquium tuum.
|
Let your mercy also come upon
me, O Lord: your salvation according to
your word.
|
42 Et respondébo
exprobrántibus mihi verbum: * quia sperávi in sermónibus tuis.
|
42 So shall I
answer them that reproach me in anything; that I have trusted in your words
|
43 Et ne áuferas de
ore meo verbum veritátis usquequáque: * quia in judíciis tuis supersperávi.
|
43 And take not
the word of truth
utterly out of my mouth: for in your words, I have hoped exceedingly.
|
44 Et custódiam legem
tuam semper: * in sæculum et in sæculum sæculi.
|
44 So shall I
always keep your law, for ever and ever.
|
45 Et ambulábam in
latitúdine: * quia mandáta tua exquisívi.
|
45 And I walked at
large: because I have sought after your commandments.
|
46 Et loquébar in
testimóniis tuis in conspéctu regum: * et non confundébar.
|
46 And I spoke of
your testimonies before kings: and I was not ashamed.
|
47 Et meditábar in
mandátis tuis, * quæ diléxi.
|
47 I meditated
also on your commandments, which I loved.
|
48 Et levávi manus
meas ad mandáta tua, quæ diléxi: * et exercébar in justificatiónibus tuis.
|
48 And I lifted up
my hands to your commandments, which I loved: and I was
exercised in your justifications.
|
Verse by verse - Vau/Vav/waw
41 Et veniat super me misericordia tua, Domine; salutare tuum secundum eloquium tuum.
Let your mercy also come upon me, O Lord: your salvation according to your word
Et veniat (subj) super me = And let it [your mercy] come over me
venio, veni, ventum, ire, to come.
super +acc=above, upon, over, in, on;+abl= about, concerning; with, on, upon, for, because of.
misericordia tua, Domine = your mercy O Lord
misericordia, ae,, mercy, kindness, favor, compassion, loving-kindness.
salutare tuum =your salvation
salutaris, e Savior, Helper, used of God; help, saving help, rescue, salvation,
secundum eloquium tuum = according to your word/promise
secundus, a, um following in time or order; the next, the second.
eloquium, ii, n. , a word, oracle, speech, utterance, promise.
We are, the Fathers point out, the children of God’s promise: his promise first to send salvation to his people in the form of a Messiah, and secondly, of the promise of his saving help offered to anyone who prays in the name of Christ. Here we are once more invited to make the salvation God offers our own.
42 Et respondebo exprobrantibus mihi verbum, quia speravi in sermonibus tuis.
So shall I answer them that reproach me in anything; that I have trusted in your words.
Et respondebo= And/So I will respond/answer
respondeo, spondi, sponsum, ere 2, to answer, respond
exprobrantibus mihi verbum = reviling/upbraiding/reproach to me to me the word = to those who reproach me a word/answer
These two phrases are difficult to translate. The use of the ‘verbum’ (and λόγον in the Greek, making it accusative) suggests that the correct translation is “And I will give an answer to those who revile me”.
St Augustine, however, comments: “It is doubtful whether it be ‘reproach me with a word’; or, ‘I will answer with a word’; but either signifies Christ. The Douay-Rheims favours the first interpretation; Brenton, the New English Translation of the Septuagint, and translations based on the Hebrew the second. The RSV, for example, translates the phrase as “then shall I have an answer for those who taunt me”.
exprobo are avi atum – to upbraid, reproach, revile
quia speravi in sermonibus tuis = that I have hoped/trusted in your words
verbum, i, n.,word, command, edict, also a promise; saying, speech
spero, avi, atum, are, to hope or trust in
sermo, onis, m. words; a command, edict word, speech, saying, discourse; scheme, plan, proposal
Those ignorant of Christ are not content just to tolerate; rather they attack. But we are told not to keep silent, but to respond, for we have Christ with us to help us do so. Cassiodorus insists that when confronted by heresy and error, when we are confronted by the guile of adversaries:“We must not be silent before those able to listen to reason, but we must respond bravely so that the audacity of men of ill-will does not appear victorious in their eyes.”
43 Et ne auferas de ore meo verbum veritatis usquequaque, quia in judiciis tuis supersperavi.
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth: for in your words, I have hoped exceedingly
Et ne auferas = And do not destroy/take away
aufero, abstuli, ablatum, auferre to take or bear away; to destroy.
de ore meo = from my mouth
os, oris, n., the mouth.
verbum veritatis = the word of truth
verbum, i, n.,word, command, edict, also a promise; saying, speech; Law
veritas, atis, truth. grace, kindness ,goodness, fidelity to promises, Faithfulness
usquequaque = utterly
usquequaque, adv., utterly, altogether, exceedingly
quia in judiciis tuis supersperavi = because in your justice I have hoped greatly
quia, conj. for, because, that. truly, surely, indeed;
judicium, i, n. judgment, decrees; law, commandment; the power, or faculty of judging wisely; justice.
superspero, avi, atum, are, with prep, in with the ace. or abl., to hope or trust in greatly.
This verse is a prayer for constancy: that we may not fail for a want of courage or pride that causes God to withdraw his grace.
44 Et custodiam legem tuam semper, in sæculum et in sæculum sæculi.
So shall I always keep your law, for ever and ever.
Et custodiam legem tuam semper= And I will keep your law always
custodio, ivi or li, itum, ire to guard, watch, keep;to maintain, to hold steadfastly.
lex, legis, a law; the Law of God. the will of God
semper, adv., ever, always, at all times.
in sæculum et in sæculum sæculi = forever and ever into eternity
saeculum, i, n., a lifetime, generation, age; an indefinite period of time; forever, eternity; from of old, i.e., in ages past.
Bellarmine comments: “He now tells us the effect of the mercy that so heals the soul, and that is the perpetual observance of God's law.”
45 Et ambulabam in latitudine, quia mandata tua exquisivi.
And I walked at large: because I have sought after your commandments
Et ambulabam (impf) = And I was walking
Note that the neo-Vulgate changes the verb to future tense (ambulabo)
ambulo, avi, atum, are to walk; the manner in which one orders one's life;
in latitudine = in freedom/at liberty/at large
latitudo, inis, f breadth, wideness, spaciousness, freedom, gladness With verbs of motion it implies freedom from restraint, and conveys the additional idea of gladness.
quia mandata tua exquisivi = because I have sought your commandments
mandatum, i, n. law, precept, command, commandment (of God); commandments, precepts, decrees
exquiro quaesivi itum ere 3, to seek, seek after
Here we come to the true sense of the term ‘freedom’: true freedom means not the option of rejecting of God’s way, but through the power of love, the ability to do God’s will easily.
46 Et loquebar in testimoniis tuis in conspectu regum, et non confundebar.
And I spoke of your testimonies before kings: and I was not ashamed.
Et loquebar = And I spoke
loquor, locutus sum, loqui, to speak, utter, tell
in testimoniis tuis = in your testimonies
testimonium, ii, n. witness, testimony; the Law; precepts, commandments, ordinances, statutes, judgments, testimonies.
in conspectu regum = in the presence of kings
conspectus, us, m. sight, presence;
rex, regis, m. a king, ruler, lawgiver
et non confundebar (impf passive) = and I was not discomforted
confundo, fudi, fiisum, ere 3, to put or bring to shame, to discomfit.
Haydock’s Catholic Commentary notes that: “Thus many even of the female sex have professed their faith boldly, with St. Agnes, St. Catharine, St. Winefrid, &c., answering the reproachful objections that were put to them, as if it were dishonourable to be a Christian, Catholic or Papist.”
47 Et meditabar in mandatis tuis, quæ dilexi.
I meditated also on your commandments, which I loved.
Et meditabar = and I was meditating/thinking
meditor, atus sum, ari, to think, plan, devise, meditate
in mandatis tuis = on your commandments
mandatum, i, n. law, precept, command, commandment (of God); commandments, precepts, decrees
quæ dilexi= which I have loved
Note that the Septuagint adds ‘exceedingly’ to the phrase, to reinforce the sense of fervour suggested here.
diligo, lexi, lectum, ere 3 to love;
Cassiodorus comments:
“A person can never neglect what he loves. Then, in case you perhaps regarded even this love as lukewarm, they added: Exceedingly; no love can be found greater than this. Love of the Lord's commandments cannot be modest like any other love; it must be enthusiastic, as is the aim here. So they rightly loved the Lord's commandments exceedingly, for they walked trustingly in breadth of heart.”
48 Et levavi manus meas ad mandata tua, quæ dilexi, et exercebar in justificationibus tuis.
And I lifted up my hands to your commandments, which I loved: and I was exercised in your justifications.
Et levavi manus meas = And I lifted up my hands
The commentaries suggest that lifting up hands means taking on an active role. Cassidorus for example says:
“In the previous verse they said I meditated on thy commandments, which relates to contemplative virtue, but now they say: I will lift up my hands, which relates to the active role, for raising the hands denotes being occupied in good works, whereas the person detained in evil actions lowers rather than raises his hands.”
levo, avi, atum, are to rise, lift up, elevate.
manus, us, f, the hand
ad mandata tua quæ dilexi =to your commandments which I loved
mandatum, i, n. law, precept, command, commandment (of God); commandments, precepts, decrees
diligo, lexi, lectum, ere 3 to love;
et exercebar in justificationibus tuis =and was pondering your precepts
exerceo, cui, citum, ere 2 to exercise, work at, employ one's self about a thing; ponder, to meditate on, be occupied or employed
justificatio, onis, f precepts, decrees, statutes, ordinances;
We are called upon here to put our meditation into action, through good works: we must join together heart, mind, word, and deed.
Scriptural and liturgical uses of the stanza
NT references
|
Jas 1:18(43);
Mt 10:18 (46)
|
RB cursus
|
Sunday Terce
|
Monastic feasts etc
|
-
|
Roman pre 1911
|
Terce daily
|
Responsories
|
-
|
Roman post 1911
|
1911-62: Sunday Terce
|
Mass propers (EF)
|
Lent
II, Lent/Sept Ember Wed OF (47-48);
Friday
Passion wk OF
PP20
CO (49-50)
Common
of a virgin martyr: IN (v46)
St
Agatha: AL, (46)
St
Justin, IN (46)
|
And you can find notes on the next stanza of the psalm here.
No comments:
Post a Comment