Psalm 144 (Pt 2): Overview

The second half of Psalm 144 opens Saturday Vespers in the Benedictine Office.

It helps give the hour the flavour of first Vespers of the Resurrection rather than the close of the week in my view.

Pope Benedict on Psalm 144:

Pope Benedict XVI gave a General Audience on vers3s 14-21 of the psalm on 8 February 2006, entitled "The Lord is faithful in all his words':

Following the liturgy that divides it into two parts, let us return to a wonderful hymn in honour of the Lord, a loving King who is attentive to his creatures. Let us now meditate upon the second part of the Psalm:  they are verses 14 to 21, which take up the fundamental theme of the hymn's first part. In them are exalted the divine compassion, tenderness, fidelity and goodness which are extended to the whole of humanity, involving every creature. 

The Psalm now focuses on the love that the Lord reserves particularly for the poor and the weak. Divine kingship is not, therefore, detached and haughty, as can be the case in the exercise of human power. God expresses his sovereignty by bending down to meet the frailest and most helpless of his creatures. Indeed, he is first and foremost a father who supports those who falter and raises those who have fallen into the dust of humiliation (cf. v. 14). Consequently, living beings are reaching out to the Lord like hungry beggars and he gives them, like a tender parent, the food they need to survive (cf. v. 15). 

At this point the profession of faith in justice and holiness, the two divine qualities par excellence, emerges from the lips of the person praying:  "The Lord is just in all his ways and loving in all his deeds" (cf. v. 17). In Hebrew we have two typical adjectives to illustrate the Covenant between God and his People:  saadiq and hasid. They express justice that seeks to save and to liberate from evil, and the faithfulness that is a sign of the Lord's loving greatness. 

The Psalmist takes the side of those who have benefited, whom he describes in various words: in practice, these terms portray true believers. They "call on" the Lord in trusting prayer, they seek him in life with a sincere heart (cf. v. 18); they "fear" their God, respecting his will and obeying his word (cf. v. 19), but above all "love" him, certain that he will take them under the mantle of his protection and his closeness (cf. v. 20). 

Then, the Psalmist's closing words are the ones with which he opened his hymn:  an invitation to praise and bless the Lord and his "name", that is, as a living and holy Person who works and saves in the world and in history. Indeed, his call is an assurance that every creature marked by the gift of life associates himself or herself with the prayerful praise:  "Let all mankind bless his holy name for ever, for ages unending" (v. 21). This is a sort of perennial hymn that must be raised from earth to heaven; it is a community celebration of God's universal love, source of peace, joy and salvation. 

To conclude our reflection, let us return to that sweet verse which says:  "[The Lord] is close to all who call him, who call on him from their hearts" (v. 18). This sentence was particularly dear to Barsanuphius of Gaza, an ascetic who died in the mid-sixth century, to whom monks, ecclesiastics and lay people would often turn because of the wisdom of his discernment. Thus, for example, to one disciple who expressed his desire "to seek the causes of the various temptations that assailed him", Barsanuphius responded:  "Brother John, do not fear any of the temptations that come to test you, for the Lord will not let you fall prey to them. So, whenever one of these temptations comes to you, do not tire yourself by endeavouring to discern what is at stake, but cry out Jesus' Name:  "Jesus, help me!'. And he will hear you, for he "is close to all who call on him'. Do not be discouraged, but run on with enthusiasm and you will reach the destination in Christ Jesus, Our Lord" (Barsanuphius and John of Gaza, Epistolario, 39:  Collana di Testi Patristici, XCIII, Rome, 1991, p. 109). 

And these words of the ancient Father also apply to us. In our difficulties, problems, temptations, we must not simply make a theoretical reflection - where do they come from? - but must react positively; we must call on the Lord, we must keep alive our contact with the Lord. Indeed, we must cry out the Name of Jesus:  "Jesus, help me!". And let us be certain that he hears us, because he is close to those who seek him. Let us not feel discouraged, but let us run on with enthusiasm, as this Father says, and we too will reach the destination of our lives:  Jesus, the Lord.

The text of the psalm

Psalm 144(pt 2): Confiteantur tibi Domine 

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
1  Confiteántur tibi, Dómine, ómnia ópera tua: * et sancti tui benedícant tibi.	10 Let all your works, O lord, praise you: and let your saints bless you.
2  Glóriam regni tui dicent: * et poténtiam tuam loquéntur	11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom: and shall tell of your power:
3  Ut notam fáciant fíliis hóminum poténtiam tuam: * et glóriam magnificéntiæ regni tui.	12 To make your might known to the sons of men: and the glory of the magnificence of your kingdom.
4  Regnum tuum regnum ómnium sæculórum: * et dominátio tua in omni generatióne et generatiónem.	13 Your kingdom is a kingdom of all ages: and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
5  Fidélis Dóminus in ómnibus verbis suis: * et sanctus in ómnibus opéribus suis	The Lord is faithful in all his words: and holy in all his works.
6  Allevat Dóminus omnes qui córruunt: * et érigit omnes elísos.	14 The Lord lifts up all that fall: and sets up all that are cast down.
7  Oculi ómnium in te sperant, Dómine: * et tu das escam illórum in témpore opportúno.	15 The eyes of all hope in you, O Lord: and you give them meat in due season.
8  Aperis tu manum tuam: * et imples omne ánimal benedictióne.	16 You open your hand, and fill with blessing every living creature.
9 Justus Dóminus in ómnibus viis suis: * et sanctus in ómnibus opéribus suis.	17 The Lord is just in all his ways: and holy in all his works.
10  Prope est Dóminus ómnibus invocántibus eum: * ómnibus invocántibus eum in veritáte.	18 The Lord is near unto all them that call upon him: to all that call upon him in truth.
11  Voluntátem timéntium se fáciet: * et deprecatiónem eórum exáudiet: et salvos fáciet eos.	19 He will do the will of them that fear him: and he will hear their prayer, and save them.
12  Custódit Dóminus omnes diligéntes se: * et omnes peccatóres dispérdet.	20 The Lord keeps all them that love him; but all the wicked he will destroy.
13  Laudatiónem Dómini loquétur os meum: * et benedícat omnis caro nómini sancto ejus in sæculum, et in sæculum sæculi.	21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name forever; yea, for ever and ever.

Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

NT references	1 Tim 1:17, Rev 11:15 (13); Mt 6:25ff (16-17); Acts 14:17 (17); Rev 15:3, 16:5 (18); Acts 17:27 (19); Jn 9:31 (20)
RB cursus	Saturday Vespers+AN 4600
Monastic feasts etc	AN 3546 (17), 2085 (20)
Roman pre 1911	Saturday Vespers
Responsories	7591 (Several Martyrs, OSB All Saints: 10-11)
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Saturday Vespers 1970: Vespers of Friday of the 4th Week
Mass propers (EF)	Advent IV GR (17, 21) Holy Name, AL (13=21); Lent 3 Thursday, (GR 7-8=15-16); Corpus Christi GR (7-8); PP20 GR (7-8=15-16) Mass of several martyrs in Eastertime, IN [1], 10, 11