Ps 140 v9 - Fix your eyes on Christ

 Verse 9 of Psalm 140 is a request for the grace of perseverance and fortititude.

  Looking at the Latin

9	V	Dissipáta sunt ossa nostra secus inférnum: * quia ad te, Dómine, Dómine, óculi mei: in te sperávi, non áuferas ánimam meam.
	OR	dissipata sunt ossa nostra secus infernum quia ad te Domine Domine oculi mei in te speravi ne auferas animam meam
	NV	dissipata sunt ossa eorum ad fauces inferni. Quia ad te, Domine, Domine, oculi mei; ad te confugi, non effundas animam meam.
	JH	sic dissipata sunt ossa nostra in ore inferi.  Quia ad te, Domine Deus, oculi mei: in te speraui ; ne euacues animam meam.
	Sept	διεσκορπίσθη τὰ ὀστᾶ ἡμῶν παρὰ τὸν ᾅδην ὅτι πρὸς σέ κύριε κύριε οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου ἐπὶ σὲ ἤλπισα μὴ ἀντανέλῃς τὴν ψυχήν μου

[Key: V=Vulgate; OR=Old Roman; NV=Neo-Vulgate; JH=St Jerome's translation from the Hebrew; Sept=Septuagint]

Note that the Neo-Vulgate opts for an alternative text tradition (not, in this case, the Masoretic) in relation to whose bones are in question here: most of the earlier versions suggest that it is ‘our’ bones that are scattered: it is our soul that we are asking God to preserve.  But the neo-Vulgate,  prefers to interpret the verse as referring to ‘their’ (sinners) bones, and make the request to preserve our lives. 

Phrase by phrase 

Dissipáta sunt ossa nostra secus inférnum: quia ad te, Dómine, Dómine, óculi mei: in te sperávi, non áuferas ánimam meam.

Our bones are scattered by the side of hell. But to you, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in you have I put my trust, take not away my soul.

 Word by word 

Dissipáta sunt (they have scattered) ossa (bones) nostra (our) secus (alongside of) inférnum (hell): * quia (for, but) ad (to) te (you), Dómine (O Lord), Dómine (O Lord), óculi (eyes) mei (my) [=my eyes are on you]: in te (you) sperávi (I have hoped), non (not) áuferas (you take away/destroy) ánimam (soul) meam (my). 

Key vocabulary 

dissipo, are avi, atum,  scatter, disperse; frustrate, bring to naught; break, annul, make void
os, ossis, n., a bone, mostly pi. ossa, lum.  a member of the body, or, the members, one’s whole being, one's spirit, strength
secus, prep, with acc. by, beside, along, near, on
infernus, i, m. Sheol; the nether world, the underworld, the grave, the kingdom of the dead, hell
aufero, abstuli, ablatum, auferre to take or bear away; to destroy. 

English translations 

DR	Our bones are scattered by the side of hell. But to you, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in you have I put my trust, take not away my soul.
Brenton	our bones have been scattered by the [mouth of] the grave. For mine eyes are to thee, O Lord God: I have hoped in thee; take not away my life.
MD	So their bones are scattered on the brink of hell: But to you, O Lord, my Lord, I turn my eyes, in Thee I hope, take not away my life.
RSV	so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol. But my eyes are toward thee, O LORD God; in thee I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
Cover	Our bones lie scattered before the pit, like as when one graveth and diggeth up the ground. But mine eyes look unto thee, O Lord God; in thee is my trust. O cast not out my soul.
Knox	a people whose bones lie scattered at the grave’s mouth, [like seed when the earth is cloven into furrows].To thee these eyes look, my Lord, my Master; in thee I trust; let not my life be forfeit.
Grail	so their bones were strewn at the mouth of the grave. To you, Lord God, my eyes are turned: in you I take refuge; spare my soul!

  [Key: DR=Douay-Rheims Challoner; MD=Monastic Diurnal; RSV=Revised Standard Version; Cover=Coverdale]

The blood and bones of the saints

There are several ways of interpreting this verse, and one offered by St Augustine is that the blood and bones of the righteous lying on the ground ties to the farming analogy of the previous verse, and suggests that the death of the martyrs acts as the fertiliser that brings forth the Church: 

We know that everything that is refuse is the fatness of the earth. The things which are, as it were, contemptible to men, enrich the earth....Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. 

As it is contemptible to the world, so is it precious to the husbandman. For he knows the use thereof, and its rich juice; he knows what he desires, what he seeks, whence the fertile crop arises; but this world despises it. 

Do you not know that God has chosen the contemptible things of the world, and those which are not, like as those which are, that the things which are may be brought to nought?  From the dunghill was Peter lifted up, and Paul; when they were put to death, they were despised: now, the earth having been enriched by them, and the cross of the Church springing up, behold, all that is noble and chief in the world, even the emperor himself, comes to Rome, and whither does he hasten? To the temple of the emperor, or the memorial of the fisherman?

The virtue of fortitude

But bones are also seen as the strongest part of the body, and so often representing strength and courage.

In this verse then, the reference to our bones lying on the bring of hell can also be interpreted as saying that so oppressed are we, that we are on the brink of falling into hell. St Augustine pointed out that the path of the martyr is not easy, and not all succeed in reaching the crown thus we must focus on Christ as our model and help:

For they were tortured in persecutions, and many failed. It occurs to him that many have failed, many have been in hazard, and as it were in the midst of the tribulation of persecution is sent forth the voice of one praying;

Trust in God

The key point of the verse then, is that in the face of difficulties and persecution, or even martyrdom, we must keep our eyes focused on Christ.

St John Chrysostom says:

Even if countless troubles beset us, he is saying - wars, battles, deaths, gates of Hades -we do not let go the holy anchor; instead, we cling to the hope of your assistance, and abandoning weapons and strategies we look to freedom from that source, your grace. In you I hoped: do not blot out my soul

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Psalmus David.	A psalm of David.
1 Dómine, clamávi ad te, exáudi me: * inténde voci meæ, cum clamávero ad te.	I have cried to you, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when I cry to you.
2  Dirigátur orátio mea sicut incénsum in conspéctu tuo: * elevátio mánuum meárum sacrifícium vespertínum.	2 Let my prayer be directed as incense in your sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice.
3  Pone, Dómine, custódiam ori meo: * et óstium circumstántiæ lábiis meis.	Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips.
4  Non declínes cor meum in verba malítiæ: * ad excusándas excusatiónes in peccátis.	4 Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins.
5  Cum homínibus operántibus iniquitátem: * et non communicábo cum eléctis eórum	With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them
6  Corrípiet me justus in misericórdia, et increpábit me: * óleum autem peccatóris non impínguet caput meum.	5 The just man shall correct me in mercy, and shall reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head.
7  Quóniam adhuc et orátio mea in beneplácitis eórum: * absórpti sunt juncti petræ júdices eórum.	For my prayer shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased: 6 Their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up.
8  Audient verba mea quóniam potuérunt: * sicut crassitúdo terræ erúpta est super terram.	They shall hear my words, for they have prevailed: 7 As when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground:
9  Dissipáta sunt ossa nostra secus inférnum: * quia ad te, Dómine, Dómine, óculi mei: in te sperávi, non áuferas ánimam meam.	Our bones are scattered by the side of hell. 8 But to you, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in you have I put my trust, take not away my soul.
10  Custódi me a láqueo, quem statuérunt mihi: * et a scándalis operántium iniquitátem.	9 Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the stumbling blocks of them that work iniquity.
11  Cadent in retiáculo ejus peccatóres: * singuláriter sum ego donec tránseam.	10 The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass.

For notes on the next verse of this psalm, continue on here.