The second repeated psalm of Lauds is Psalm 50. As I've previously dealt with it in detail (see below for links to previous posts), I won't linger on it here.
I do, however, want to spend a few lines to pondering the reasons why St Benedict included it as one of the repeated psalms of the Office.
Contrition
I noted in relation to Psalm 66 that there is a certain symmetry in the opening call for God to have mercy on us: Psalm 66 uses the verb misereor twice, this psalm famously adds the third invocation of it; the three Laudate psalms can be seen as the counterbalance to these.
Indeed, the Miserere is surely one of the most poignant psalms in the psalter, acknowledging our sinful state, and encouraging us to beg God's forgiveness of our sins.
Accordingly, St Benedict perhaps includes it each day at least in part for the same reasons he specifies that the Superior of the community should say the Our Father each day: monks and nuns may aspire to perfection, but are still but human, and prone to sin, in need of constant conversion.
Praise and mission
Nonetheless, the Miserere is not all about contrition, or, perhaps more accurately sets contrition before us as a necessary foundation rather than an end in itself, for the second half of the psalm goes very much to the mission of the Christian.
That mission, the psalms of Lauds makes clear, is twofold: firstly to praise and worship God; and secondly to work to advance his kingdom in the world.
Verses 15&16 go to the praise of God, with the latter used daily to open Matins:
The psalm also speaks to the mission of building up the Church:
Verse by verse notes
You can find more detailed notes on the psalm here:
Introduction to Psalm 50
Psalm 50: verses 1-4
Psalm 50: verses 5-6
Psalm 50: verses 7-9
Psalm 50: verses 10-12
Psalm 50: verses 13-15
Psalm 50: verse 16
Psalm 50: verses 17-18
Psalm 50: verses 19-20
I do, however, want to spend a few lines to pondering the reasons why St Benedict included it as one of the repeated psalms of the Office.
Contrition
I noted in relation to Psalm 66 that there is a certain symmetry in the opening call for God to have mercy on us: Psalm 66 uses the verb misereor twice, this psalm famously adds the third invocation of it; the three Laudate psalms can be seen as the counterbalance to these.
Indeed, the Miserere is surely one of the most poignant psalms in the psalter, acknowledging our sinful state, and encouraging us to beg God's forgiveness of our sins.
Accordingly, St Benedict perhaps includes it each day at least in part for the same reasons he specifies that the Superior of the community should say the Our Father each day: monks and nuns may aspire to perfection, but are still but human, and prone to sin, in need of constant conversion.
Praise and mission
Nonetheless, the Miserere is not all about contrition, or, perhaps more accurately sets contrition before us as a necessary foundation rather than an end in itself, for the second half of the psalm goes very much to the mission of the Christian.
That mission, the psalms of Lauds makes clear, is twofold: firstly to praise and worship God; and secondly to work to advance his kingdom in the world.
Verses 15&16 go to the praise of God, with the latter used daily to open Matins:
15 Líbera
me de sanguínibus, Deus, Deus salútis meæ: * et exsultábit lingua mea
justítiam tuam.
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Deliver
me from blood, O God, you God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol your
justice.
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16 Dómine,
lábia mea apéries: * et os meum annuntiábit laudem tuam.
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O
Lord, you will open my lips: and my mouth shall declare your praise.
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The psalm also speaks to the mission of building up the Church:
14 Docébo
iníquos vias tuas: * et ímpii ad te converténtur.
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I will
teach the unjust your ways: and the wicked shall be converted to you.
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19 Benígne
fac, Dómine, in bona voluntáte tua Sion: * ut ædificéntur muri Jerúsalem.
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Deal
favourably, O Lord, in your good will with Sion; that the walls of
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Verse by verse notes
You can find more detailed notes on the psalm here:
Introduction to Psalm 50
Psalm 50: verses 1-4
Psalm 50: verses 5-6
Psalm 50: verses 7-9
Psalm 50: verses 10-12
Psalm 50: verses 13-15
Psalm 50: verse 16
Psalm 50: verses 17-18
Psalm 50: verses 19-20
Psalm 50: Miserere me Deus
Vulgate
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Douay-Rheims
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In
finem. Psalmus David cum venit ad eum Nathan propheta, quando intravit ad
Bethsabee.
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Unto
the end, a psalm of David, 2 when Nathan the prophet came to him,
after he had sinned with Bethsabee.
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1 Miserére
mei Deus, * secúndum magnam misericórdiam tuam.
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Have
mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy.
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2
Et secúndum multitúdinem miseratiónum tuárum, * dele iniquitátem meam.
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And
according to the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my iniquity.
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3 Amplius
lava me ab iniquitáte mea: * et a peccáto meo munda me.
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Wash
me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
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4 Quóniam
iniquitátem meam ego cognósco: * et peccátum meum contra me est semper.
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For I
know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.
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5 Tibi
soli peccávi, et malum coram te feci: * ut justificéris in sermónibus tuis,
et vincas cum judicáris.
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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.
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6 Ecce
enim in iniquitátibus concéptus sum: * et in peccátis concépit me mater mea.
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For
behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me.
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7 Ecce
enim veritátem dilexísti: * incérta et occúlta sapiéntiæ tuæ manifestásti
mihi.
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For
behold you have loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of your wisdom
you have made manifest to me.
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8
Aspérges me hyssópo, et mundábor: * lavábis me, et super nivem dealbábor.
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You
shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: you shall wash me,
and I shall be made whiter than snow.
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9 Audítui
meo dabis gáudium et lætítiam: * et exsultábunt ossa humiliáta.
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To my
hearing you shall give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled
shall rejoice.
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10 Avérte
fáciem tuam a peccátis meis: * et omnes iniquitátes meas dele.
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Turn
away your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
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11 Cor
mundum crea in me, Deus: * et spíritum rectum ínnova in viscéribus meis.
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Create
a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.
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12 Ne
projícias me a fácie tua: * et spíritum sanctum tuum ne áuferas a me.
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Cast
me not away from your face; and take not your holy spirit from me.
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13 Redde
mihi lætítiam salutáris tui: * et spíritu principáli confírma me.
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Restore
unto me the joy of your salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.
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14 Docébo
iníquos vias tuas: * et ímpii ad te converténtur.
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I will
teach the unjust your ways: and the wicked shall be converted to you.
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15 Líbera
me de sanguínibus, Deus, Deus salútis meæ: * et exsultábit lingua mea
justítiam tuam.
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Deliver
me from blood, O God, you God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol your
justice.
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16 Dómine,
lábia mea apéries: * et os meum annuntiábit laudem tuam.
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O
Lord, you will open my lips: and my mouth shall declare your praise.
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17 Quóniam
si voluísses sacrifícium dedíssem útique: * holocáustis non delectáberis.
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For if
you had desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings
you will not be delighted.
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18 Sacrifícium
Deo spíritus contribulátus: * cor contrítum, et humiliátum, Deus non
despícies.
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A
sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God,
you will not despise.
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19 Benígne
fac, Dómine, in bona voluntáte tua Sion: * ut ædificéntur muri Jerúsalem.
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Deal
favourably, O Lord, in your good will with Sion; that the walls of
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20 Tunc
acceptábis sacrifícium justítiæ, oblatiónes, et holocáusta: * tunc impónent
super altáre tuum vítulos.
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Then
shall you accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt
offerings: then shall they lay calves upon your altar.
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Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm
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NT references
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Acts 3:19 (v1); Lk 15:18, Rom 3:4 (v5); Rom 5:12, 7:14, Eph 2:3 (v6);
Heb 9:13-14 (v9); Rom 8:9, 14-16 (v12); Lk 22:32, Jas 5:20 (14)
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RB cursus
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Lauds daily
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Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc
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Lauds Office of the
Dead; Penitential Psalms; Grace for
meals;
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Roman pre 1911
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Lauds daily
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Roman post 1911
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1911-62: Lauds II daily . 1970:
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Mass propers (EF)
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Asperges,
PP 10 CO21;
Tuesday Lent 2, OF 3
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