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| Juan de Juanes |
In the last post we looked at the psalms witness of God's intervention in history. The other key theme of Psalms 113, 134 and 135 is of course the
election of Israel ,
and their special status as the people that God is especially mindful of. In Psalm 135, this theme is dealt with mostly in verses 21-27.
Comparison of the psalms
Verses 21 and 22 are identical to Psalm 134:12, and you can
find notes on them in that context here..
Both Psalms 113 (Monday Vespers) and 134 point specifically to the election
of Israel ;
Psalms 113 and 135 talk about God's 'mindfulness' of his people, as the table below sets out.
The election of Israel in Psalms 113, 134 and 135.
Ps 135
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Ps 134
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Ps 113
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He has chosen
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4 Quoniam Jacob elegit sibi
Dominus; Israël in possessionem sibi.
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2 Facta est Judæa sanctificátio ejus, Israël
potéstas ejus.
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Given them the Promised Land as an inheritance
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21 Et dedit terram eórum hereditátem []
22 Hereditátem Israël, servo suo []
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12 et dedit terram eorum
hæreditatem,
hæreditatem
Israël populo suo.
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Continues to care for his people
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23 Quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri: * quóniam in
ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
24 Et redémit nos ab inimícis nostris: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus. |
13 Domine, nomen tuum in
æternum; Domine, memoriale tuum in generationem et generationem.
14 Quia judicabit Dominus
populum suum, et in servis suis deprecabitur.
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17 Domus Israël sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum
et protéctor eórum est...
20 Dóminus
memor fuit nostri: * et benedíxit nobis:
21 Benedíxit dómui Israël: * benedíxit dómui Aaron. 22 Benedíxit ómnibus, qui timent Dóminum, * pusíllis cum majóribus. |
23
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V/NV/JH
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Quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri: *
quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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ὅτι ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει ἡμῶν ἐμνήσθη ἡμῶν ὁ κύριος ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ |
Quia (for) in humilitáte (in the
affliction/lowliness/humiliation) nostra (our) memor (mindful) fuit (he was)
nostri (of us)
humilitas, atis, f affliction, humiliation, wretchedness,
misery
memor,
oris mindful of, thoughtful of; to
remember, call to mind, think of, take thought for, recall, recount,
etc.
DR
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For he was
mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy endures for ever.
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Brenton
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For the Lord
remembered us in our low estate; for his mercy endures for ever:
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MD
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He remembered us
in our lowliness, for his mercy endureth forever
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RSV
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It is he who
remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
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Cover
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who
remembered us when we were in trouble (for his mercy endureth for ever),
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Knox
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Eternal the mercy that remembers us in our affliction,
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24
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V/NV
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Et redémit nos ab inimícis nostris: * quóniam in
ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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JH
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Et redemit nos de hostibus nostris :
quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
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Et (and) redémit (he redeemed) nos (us) ab (from)
inimícis (the enemies) nostris (of us)
redimo ere emi emptum 3 to redeem, buy
back, ransom, rescue, set free, save
inimicus, i, m., a foe, enemy
DR
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And he redeemed us from our
enemies: for his mercy endures for ever.
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Brenton
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and redeemed us
from our enemies; for his mercy endures for ever.
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MD
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He delivered us
from our enemies, for his mercy endureth forever
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RSV
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and rescued us
from our foes, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
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Cover
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and
hath delivered us from our enemies (for his mercy endureth for ever);
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Knox
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eternal
the mercy that rescues us from our enemies,
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25
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V/NV
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Qui dat escam omni carni: * quóniam in ætérnum
misericórdia ejus.
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JH
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Qui dat panem omni carni : quoniam in
aeternum misericordia eius.
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ὁ διδοὺς τροφὴν πάσῃ σαρκί ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ |
Qui (and) dat (he gives) escam (food) omni
(to all) carni (flesh)
esca,
ae, f food for men or beasts.
caro, carnis, f flesh as
food, the -flesh of beasts; man, mankind;
the body; every living being
DR
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Who gives food
to all flesh: for his mercy endures for ever.
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Brenton
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Who gives food
to all flesh; for his mercy endures for ever.
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MD
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He giveth food
to all flesh, for his mercy endureth forever
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RSV
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he who gives
food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures for ever.
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Cover
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who
giveth food to all flesh (for his mercy endureth for ever).
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Knox
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eternal
the mercy that gives all living things their food.
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Those interpretations are obviously all valid, but I'd like to add another layer to that and suggest that perhaps the verse provides a fitting conclusion to St Benedict's 'redemption triptych in the opening psalms of Vespers from Monday to Wednesday. In this light we can read the reference to food for all flesh, and the subsequent verses (which repeat the opening of the psalm), as referring to God's offer of his own flesh as food and drink for us in the New Covenant of Christ; a covenant which is open to
all, Jew and Gentile alike.
Vulgate
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Douay-Rheims
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Alleluja.
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1 Confitémini Dómino, quóniam bonus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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Praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.
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2 Confitémini Deo deórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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2 Praise the God of gods: for his mercy endures for ever.
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3 Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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3 Praise the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever.
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4 Qui facit mirabília magna solus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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4 Who alone does great wonders: for his mercy endures for ever.
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5 Qui fecit cælos in intelléctu: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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5 Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy endures for ever.
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6 Qui firmávit terram super aquas: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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6 Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy endures for ever.
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7 Qui fecit luminária magna: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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7 Who made the great lights: for his mercy endures for ever.
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8 Solem in potestátem diéi : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus
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8 The sun to rule the day: for his mercy endures for ever.
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9 Lunam et stellas in potestátem noctis: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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9 The moon and the stars to rule the night: for his mercy endures for ever.
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10 Qui percússit Ægyptum cum primogénitis eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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10 Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endures for ever.
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11 Qui edúxit Israël de médio eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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11 Who brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endures for ever.
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12 In manu poténti, et bráchio excélso : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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12 With a mighty hand and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endures for ever.
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13 Qui divísit Mare Rubrum in divisiónes: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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13 Who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endures for ever.
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14 Et edúxit Israël per médium ejus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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14 And brought out Israel through the midst thereof: for his mercy endures for ever.
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15 Et excussit Pharaónem, et virtútem ejus in Mari Rubro: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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15 And overthrew Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endures for ever.
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16 Qui tradúxit pópulum suum per desértum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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16 Who led his people through the desert: for his mercy endures for ever.
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17 Qui percússit reges magnos: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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17 Who smote great kings: for his mercy endures for ever.
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18 Et occídit reges fortes : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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18 And slew strong kings: for his mercy endures for ever.
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19 Sehon, regem Amorrhæórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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19 Sehon king of the Amorrhites: for his mercy endures for ever.
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20 Et Og, regem Basan: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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20 And Og king of Basan: for his mercy endures for ever.
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21 Et dedit terram eórum hereditátem : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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21 And he gave their land for an inheritance: for his mercy endures for ever.
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22 Hereditátem Israël, servo suo : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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22 For an inheritance to his servant Israel: for his mercy endures for ever.
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23 Quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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23 For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy endures for ever
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24 Et redémit nos ab inimícis nostris: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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24 And he redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endures for ever.
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25 Qui dat escam omni carni: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus
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25 Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy endures for ever.
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26 Confitémini Deo cæli: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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26 Give glory to the God of heaven: for his mercy endures for ever.
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27 Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
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Give glory to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever
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And that concludes this set of notes on Psalm 135. You can find an introduction to the third psalm of Wednesday Vespers, Psalm 136, here.
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