Verse 8 of Psalm 94 demands that we not put off repentance, but rather respond now.
It is extremely important to Benedictines due to its citation by St Benedict in his Rule. The verses remind us of the urgency of conversion, lest we too find ourselves, like those companions of Moses, unable to enter the promised land, and condemned instead to wander the desert eternally.
Let us arise, then, at last, for the Scripture stirs us up, saying, "Now
is the hour for us to rise from sleep" (Rom. 13:11). Let us open our eyes
to the deifying light, let us hear with
attentive ears the warning which the
divine voice cries daily to us, "Today if you hear His voice, harden not your hearts" (Ps.
94[95]:8). And again, "Whoever has
ears to hear, hear what the Spirit says
to the churches" (Matt. 11-15; Apoc. 2:7).
This verse points to one of the most grievous sins against God, namely putting oneself in a situation and demanding that God rescue us from it. The Catechism cites this psalm in support of its analysis of the sin:
“Tempting God consists in putting his goodness and almighty power to the test by word or deed. Thus Satan tried to induce Jesus to throw himself down from the Temple and, by this gesture, force God to act. Jesus opposed Satan with the word of God: "You shall not put the LORD your God to the test." The challenge contained in such tempting of God wounds the respect and trust we owe our Creator and Lord. It always harbors doubt about his love, his providence, and his power.” (CCC2219)
The devil of course tempted Our Lord in this way, daring him to throw himself off the heights in order to be rescued by the angels.
And you can find the final part in this series on Psalm 94 here.
It is extremely important to Benedictines due to its citation by St Benedict in his Rule. The verses remind us of the urgency of conversion, lest we too find ourselves, like those companions of Moses, unable to enter the promised land, and condemned instead to wander the desert eternally.
8
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VL/V
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Hódie, si vocem ejus audiéritis, nolíte obduráre
corda vestra
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NV
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Utinam hodie vocem eius audiatis: “ Nolite obdurare corda vestra, |
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JH
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Hodie, si uocem eius audieritis, nolite
indurare corda uestra,
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μὴ σκληρύνητε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν ὡς ἐν τῷ παραπικρασμῷ κατὰ τὴν ἡμέραν τοῦ πειρασμοῦ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ
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Text notes: The speaking voice shifts again here to a
prophetic tone.
Hódie=today
si vocem ejus audiéritis=if you shall hear
his voice
nolíte obduráre be unwilling to harden
corda vestra=your hearts
hodie, adv. today
vox, vocis, the voice of a person, or, the sound of an instrument,
thunder.
audio, ivi or li, Itum, ire to hear; to hear gladly; sound forth, utter,
announce; hear favorably, to grant,
nolo, nolui, nolle to be unwilling, not to wish, to refuse
It is generally found in the imperative followed by the infinitive of another
verb.
.
DR
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Today if you shall hear his voice, harden
not your hearts:
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Cover
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Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not
your hearts
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Hebrews provides an extended commentary on these verses, pointing out that
there are consequences to God’s providential care for us: we are part of a
covenantal relationship which means we too have obligations towards God, most
importantly not to reject him through sin and unbelief. Instead, we are called not only to adore God,
but to obey his commandments and do good works.
St Benedict uses this passage to call us to the more intense spiritual
life he proposes in his Rule:
9
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VL
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Sicut in exacerbatióne, secúndum diem tentatiónis in
desérto : ubi tentavérunt me patres vestri, probavérunt et vidérunt ópera
mea.
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V
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sicut in irritatione, secundum diem
tentationis in deserto, ubi tentaverunt me patres vestri : probaverunt
me, et viderunt opera mea.
|
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NV
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sicut in Meriba, secundum diem
probaverunt me, etsi viderunt opera mea. |
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JH
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sicut in contradictione, sicut in die
temtationis in deserto: ubi temtauerunt me patres uestri, probauerunt me, et
uiderunt opus meum.
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οὗ ἐπείρασαν οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν ἐδοκίμασαν καὶ εἴδοσαν τὰ ἔργα μου
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Text notes: Britt notes that the MT has:
(Harden not your hearts) as at Meribah ( = quarrel, strife), as in the day of
Massah ( = temptation) in the wilderness. The Greek translators and St. Jerome
Sicut in exacerbatione=as in the provocation
secundum diem tentationis=according to the day of temptation
in deserto=in the wilderness.
ubi tentavérunt me=where they tried me
patres vestry=your fathers
probavérunt= and they tested
et vidérunt ópera mea= and saw my works
sicut, adv., as, just as, like.
exacerbatio, onis, rebellion, disobedience, an exasperation; in particular the stirring
of Divine anger by the Jews in the desert, the provocation.
secundus, a, um following in time or order; the next, the second.
dies, ei, m& f. a day
tentatio, onis, a trial, temptation; an attack.
desertum, i, n., a desert, wilderness.
tento, avi, atum, are, to tempt
pater, tris, m. a father; mostly pi. in the sense of forefathers, ancestors
probo, avi, atum, are to try, to test, prove, examine; to search, prove
video, vidi, vlsum, ere 2, to see,
behold; consider; experience, undergo, suffer, realize; keep watch, look for,
meditate on
opus,
eris, n., work.
DR
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As in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness: where your
fathers tempted me,
they proved me, and saw my works.
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RSV
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as at Mer'ibah,
as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers tested me,
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. |
Cover
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as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the
wilderness, when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works.
|
This verse points to one of the most grievous sins against God, namely putting oneself in a situation and demanding that God rescue us from it. The Catechism cites this psalm in support of its analysis of the sin:
“Tempting God consists in putting his goodness and almighty power to the test by word or deed. Thus Satan tried to induce Jesus to throw himself down from the Temple and, by this gesture, force God to act. Jesus opposed Satan with the word of God: "You shall not put the LORD your God to the test." The challenge contained in such tempting of God wounds the respect and trust we owe our Creator and Lord. It always harbors doubt about his love, his providence, and his power.” (CCC2219)
The devil of course tempted Our Lord in this way, daring him to throw himself off the heights in order to be rescued by the angels.
Psalm 94: Venite Exultemus Domino
Vulgate
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Psalter
(Vetus
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Douay-Rheims
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Laus cantici ipsi David.
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Praise of a canticle for David himself.
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1
Venite, exsultemus Domino; jubilemus Deo salutari nostro;
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1.
Veníte, exsultémus Dómino, jubilémus Deo, salutári nostro:
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Come let us praise the Lord with joy:
let us joyfully sing to God our saviour.
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2
præoccupemus faciem ejus in confessione, et in psalmis jubilemus ei
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præoccupémus
fáciem ejus in confessióne, et in psalmis jubilémus ei.
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2 Let us come before his presence
with thanksgiving; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.
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3
quoniam Deus magnus Dominus, et rex magnus super omnes deos.
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2.
Quóniam Deus magnus Dóminus, et Rex magnus super omnes deos
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3 For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
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4
Quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, et altitudines montium ipsius sunt;
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:
quóniam non repéllet Dóminus plebem suam : quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines
terræ, et altitúdines móntium ipse cónspicit.
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4 For in his hand are all the
ends of the earth: and the heights of the mountains are his.
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5
quoniam ipsius est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et siccam manus ejus
formaverunt
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3.
Quóniam ipsíus est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et áridam fundavérunt manus
ejus
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5 For the sea is his, and he made
it: and his hands formed the dry land.
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6 Venite, adoremus, et procidamus, et
ploremus ante Dominum qui fecit nos:
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Veníte, adorémus, et procidámus ante Deum :
plorémus coram Dómino, qui fecit nos,
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6 Come
let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us.
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7 quia ipse est Dominus Deus noster, et nos
populus pascuæ ejus, et oves manus ejus.
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quia
ipse est Dóminus Deus noster ; nos autem pópulus ejus, et oves páscuæ ejus.
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7 For
he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of
his hand.
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8
Hodie si vocem ejus audieritis, nolite obdurare corda vestra
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4.
Hódie, si vocem ejus audiéritis, nolíte obduráre corda vestra,
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8 Today
if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts:
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9
sicut in irritatione, secundum diem tentationis in deserto, ubi tentaverunt
me patres vestri : probaverunt me, et viderunt opera mea.
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sicut
in exacerbatióne, secúndum diem tentatiónis in desérto : ubi tentavérunt me
patres vestri, probavérunt et vidérunt ópera mea.
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9 As
in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness:
where your fathers tempted me, they proved me, and saw my works.
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10
Quadraginta annis offensus fui generationi illi, et dixi : Semper hi
errant corde.
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5.
Quadragínta annis próximus fui generatióni huic, et dixi : Semper hi errant
corde ;
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10 Forty years long was I offended
with that generation, and I said: These always err in heart.
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11
Et isti non cognoverunt vias meas : ut juravi in ira mea : Si
introibunt in requiem meam.
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ipsi
vero non cognovérunt vias meas : quibus jurávi in ira mea : Si introíbunt in
réquiem meam.
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11 And these men have not known my
ways: so I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest.
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And you can find the final part in this series on Psalm 94 here.
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