Psalm 79: Overview

Psalm 79 opens the second nocturn of Thursday matins in the Benedictine Office.

St Alphonsus Liguori summarised it as follows:

We find in this psalm, according as we take it in the literal or the mystical sense, the prayer which the Jews who were prisoners addressed to God for their deliverance, or which the patriarchs offered up, that the Messias might put an end to the tyranny of the devil.

St Augustine focused on the mystical meaning of the psalm in explaining its title:

The song here is of the Advent of the Lord and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His vineyard. But the singer of the song is that Asaph, as far as does appear, enlightened and converted, by whose name ye know the synagogue to be signified. Lastly, the title of the Psalm is: For the end in behalf of them that shall be changed; that is, for the better. For Christ, the end of the Law, has come on purpose that He should change men for the better. And he adds, a testimony to Asaph himself. A good testimony of truth. Lastly, this testimony does confess both Christ and the vineyard; that is, Head and Body, King and people, Shepherd and flock, and the entire mystery of all Scriptures, Christ and the Church. But the title of the Psalm does conclude with, for the Assyrians. The Assyrians are interpreted, men guiding. Therefore it is no longer a generation which has not guided the heart thereof, but now a generation guiding...

The text of Psalm 79

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
In finem, pro iis qui commutabuntur. Testimonium Asaph, psalmus.	Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, a testimony for Asaph, a psalm.
1 Qui regis Israël, inténde: * qui dedúcis velut ovem Joseph.	Give ear, O you that rule Israel: you that lead Joseph like a sheep.
2  Qui sedes super Chérubim: * manifestáre coram Ephraim, Bénjamin, et Manásse.	You that sit upon the cherubims, shine forth 3 before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses.
3  Excita poténtiam tuam, et veni: * ut salvos fácias nos.	Stir up your might, and come to save us.
4  Deus, convérte nos: * et osténde fáciem tuam, et salvi érimus.	4 Convert us, O God: and show us your face, and we shall be saved.
5  Dómine, Deus virtútum, * quoúsque irascéris super oratiónem servi tui?	5 O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry against the prayer of your servant?
6  Cibábis nos pane lacrimárum: * et potum dabis nobis in lácrimis in mensúra?	6 How long will you feed us with the bread of tears: and give us for our drink tears in measure?
7  Posuísti nos in contradictiónem vicínis nostris: * et inimíci ostril subsannavérunt nos.	7 You have made us to be a contradiction to our neighbours: and our enemies have scoffed at us.
8  Deus virtútum, convérte nos: * et osténde fáciem tuam, et salvi érimus.	8 O God of hosts, convert us: and show your face, and we shall be saved.
9  Víneam de Ægypto transtulísti: * ejecísti Gentes, et plantásti eam.	9 You have brought a vineyard out of Egypt: you have cast out the Gentiles and planted it.
10  Dux itíneris fuísti in conspéctu ejus: * plantásti radíces ejus, et implévit terram.	10 You were the guide of its journey in its sight: you planted the roots thereof, and it filled the land.
11  Opéruit montes umbra ejus: * et arbústa ejus cedros Dei.	11 The shadow of it covered the hills: and the branches thereof the cedars of God.
12  Exténdit pálmites suos usque ad mare: * et usque ad flumen propágines ejus.	12 It stretched forth its branches unto the sea, and its boughs unto the river.
13  Ut quid destruxísti macériam ejus: * et vindémiant eam omnes, qui prætergrediúntur viam?	13 Why have you broken down the hedge thereof, so that all they who pass by the way do pluck it?
14  Exterminávit eam aper de silva: * et singuláris ferus depástus est eam.	14 The boar out of the wood has laid it waste: and a singular wild beast has devoured it.
15  Deus virtútum, convértere: * réspice de cælo, et vide, et vísita víneam istam.	15 Turn again, O God of hosts, look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vineyard:
16  Et pérfice eam, quam plantávit déxtera tua: * et super fílium hóminis, quem confirmásti tibi.	16 And perfect the same which your right hand has planted: and upon the son of man whom you have confirmed for yourself.
17  Incénsa igni, et suffóssa: * ab increpatióne vultus tui períbunt.	17 Things set on fire and dug down shall perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
18  Fiat manus tua super virum déxteræ tuæ: * et super fílium hóminis quem confirmásti tibi.	18 Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand: and upon the son of man whom you have confirmed for yourself
19  Et non discédimus a te, vivificábis nos: * et nomen tuum invocábimus.	19 And we depart not from you, you shall quicken us: and we will call upon your name.
20  Dómine, Deus virtútum, convérte nos: * et osténde fáciem tuam, et salvi érimus.	20 O Lord God of hosts, convert us and show your face, and we shall be saved

Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

NT references	John 10:1-15 (1)
RB cursus	Thursday Matins II, 1
Monastic feasts etc	-
Roman pre 1911	Thursday matins
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Friday Terce . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)	-

Psalm 77: Overview

Psalm 77 is a very long psalm, and so is split into two parts in the Benedictine Office of Thursday Matins.

It has a particular appropriateness to the day of the week on which we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist though, since its focus is on the history of the liberation of the people of Israel from Egypt, and the first half in particular focuses on the miraculous feeding in the desert, a type of the Eucharist.  The second half of the psalm tells mostly of Israel's ingratitude, thus forshadowing the exit of God's presence from the Temple, and presence henceforward in Christian churches instead.

Cassiodorus broke down the psalm into several sections:

In the first part of the psalm, two short verses are seen to be ascribed to the Lord's person; the purpose of this is that respect for the ensuing words may be enhanced when the King himself was seen to speak the exordium. 

In the second part Asaph speaks more expansively, rebuking the Jews because they have shown themselves ungrateful for the Lord's great benefits. They were deformed by wickedness, and utterly refused to submit their hearts to the Lord's commands. 

In the third part are enumerated all the gifts which God's power bestowed on the people of Israel, yet they did not cease grumbling. 

The fourth section states the nature of the vengeance which rose up among them, and tells how that sentence was softened by the Lord's pity. 

In the fifth part they were punished for their murmurings, but they returned to entreat the Lord in recognition of His great works. 

In the sixth section they again spoke with guile and pursued their customary errors, but the Lord's mercy did not permit them to be scattered, though this penalty could have been justly imposed on their evil deeds. 

The seventh part describes how they roused the Lord in the desert, when on their account the Egyptians were sorely afflicted by ten plagues. 

In the eighth the kindnesses of the Lord are recounted, and again the guilt of Jewish obduracy is appended. 

In the ninth the most stern vengeance follows, resulting in His consigning the people to captivity and abandoning the tabernacle of Silo, in which He was seen to dwell among men; and subsequently He chose Mount Sion, and David His servant, so that from his seed Christ the Lord should be born to come as saving Physician  of the world. Thus in the psalm there is the description from the beginning of the choice of the Jewish race right up to the coming of the Lord Saviour.

The text of the psalm

 Psalm 77/1

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Intellectus Asaph.	Understanding for Asaph.
1  Atténdite, pópule meus, legem meam: * inclináte aurem vestram in verba oris mei.	Attend, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2  Apériam in parábolis os meum: * loquar propositiónes ab inítio.	2 I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter propositions from the beginning.
3  Quanta audívimus et cognóvimus ea: * et patres nostri narravérunt nobis.	3 How great things have we heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4  Non sunt occultáta a fíliis eórum: * in generatióne áltera.	4 They have not been hidden from their children, in another generation.
5  Narrántes laudes Dómini, et virtútes ejus: * et mirabília ejus, quæ fecit.	Declaring the praises of the Lord, and his powers, and his wonders which he has done.
6  Et suscitávit testimónium in Jacob: * et legem pósuit in Israël	5 And he set up a testimony in Jacob: and made a law in Israel.
7  Quanta mandávit pátribus nostris nota fácere ea fíliis suis: * ut cognóscat generátio áltera.	How great things he commanded our fathers, that they should make the same known to their children: 6 That another generation might know them.
8  Fílii qui nascéntur, et exsúrgent, * et narrábunt fíliis suis.	The children that should be born and should rise up, and declare them to their children.
9  Ut ponant in Deo spem suam, et non obliviscántur óperum Dei: * et mandáta ejus exquírant.	7 That they may put their hope in God and may not forget the works of God: and may seek his commandments
10  Ne fiant sicut patres eórum: * generátio prava et exásperans.	8 That they may not become like their fathers, a perverse and exasperating generation.
11  Generátio, quæ non diréxit cor suum: * et non est créditus cum Deo spíritus ejus.	A generation that set not their heart aright: and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
12  Fílii Ephrem intendéntes et mitténtes arcum: * convérsi sunt in die belli.	9 The sons of Ephraim who bend and shoot with the bow: they have turned back in the day of battle.
13  Non custodiérunt testaméntum Dei: * et in lege ejus noluérunt ambuláre.	10 They kept not the covenant of God: and in his law they would not walk
14  Et oblíti sunt benefactórum ejus: * et mirabílium ejus quæ osténdit eis.	11 And they forgot his benefits, and his wonders that he had shown them.
15  Coram pátribus eórum fecit mirabília in terra Ægypti: * in campo Táneos.	12 Wonderful things did he do in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Tanis.
16  Interrúpit mare, et perdúxit eos: * et státuit aquas quasi in utre.	13 He divided the sea and brought them through: and he made the waters to stand as in a vessel.
17  Et dedúxit eos in nube diéi: * et tota nocte in illuminatióne ignis.	14 And he conducted them with a cloud by day: and all the night with a light of fire.
18  Interrúpit petram in erémo: * et adaquávit eos velut in abysso multa.	15 He struck the rock in the wilderness: and gave them to drink, as out of the great deep.
19  Et edúxit aquam de petra: * et dedúxit tamquam flúmina aquas.	16 He brought forth water out of the rock: and made streams run down as rivers.
20 Et apposuérunt adhuc peccáre ei: * in iram excitavérunt Excélsum in inaquóso.	17 And they added yet more sin against him: they provoked the most High to wrath in the place without water.
21  Et tentavérunt Deum in córdibus suis, * ut péterent escas animábus suis.	18 And they tempted God in their hearts, by asking meat for their desires
22  Et male locúti sunt de Deo: * dixérunt: Numquid póterit Deus paráre mensam in desérto?	19 And they spoke ill of God: they said: Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
23  Quóniam percússit petram, et fluxérunt aquæ: * et torréntes inundavérunt.	20 Because he struck the rock, and the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed.
24  Numquid et panem póterit dare, * aut paráre mensam pópulo suo?	Can he also give bread, or provide a table for his people?
25  Ideo audívit Dóminus, et dístulit: * et ignis accénsus est in Jacob, et ira ascéndit in Israël.	21 Therefore the Lord heard, and was angry: and a fire was kindled against Jacob, and wrath came up against Israel.
26  Quia non credidérunt in Deo: * nec speravérunt in salutári ejus :	22 Because they believed not in God: and trusted not in his salvation.
27  Et mandávit núbibus désuper: * et jánuas cæli apéruit.	23 And he had commanded the clouds from above, and had opened the doors of heaven.
28  Et pluit illis manna ad manducándum: * et panem cæli dedit eis.	24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them the bread of heaven.
29  Panem Angelórum manducávit homo, * cibária misit eis in abundántia.	25 Man ate the bread of angels: he sent them provisions in abundance.
30  Tránstulit Austrum de cælo: * et indúxit in virtúte sua Africum.	26 He removed the south wind from heaven: and by his power brought in the southwest wind.
31  Et pluit super eos sicut púlverem carnes: * et sicut arénam maris volatília pennáta.	27 And he rained upon them flesh as dust: and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea.
32  Et cecidérunt in médio castrórum eórum: * circa tabernácula eórum.	28 And they fell in the midst of their camp, round about their pavilions.
33  Et manducavérunt, et saturáti sunt nimis, et desidérium eórum áttulit eis: * non sunt fraudáti a desidério suo.	29 So they ate, and were filled exceedingly, and he gave them their desire: 30 They were not defrauded of that which they craved.
34  Adhuc escæ eórum erant in ore ipsórum: * et ira Dei ascéndit super eos	As yet their meat was in their mouth: 31 And the wrath of God came upon them.
35  Et occídit pingues eórum, * et eléctos Israël impedívit.	And he slew the fat ones amongst them, and brought down the chosen men of Israel.
36  In ómnibus his peccavérunt adhuc: * et non credidérunt mirabílibus ejus.	32 In all these things they sinned still: and they behaved not for his wondrous works.
37  Et defecérunt in vanitáte dies eórum: * et anni eórum cum festinatióne.	33 And their days were consumed in vanity, and their years in haste.
38  Cum occíderet eos, quærébant eum: * et revertebántur, et dilúculo veniébant ad eum.	34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned, and came to him early in the morning.
39  Et rememoráti sunt quia Deus adjútor est eórum: * et Deus excélsus redémptor eórum est.	35 And they remembered that God was their helper: and the most high God their redeemer.

(divisio)

 Psalm 77/2

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
40  Et dilexérunt eum in ore suo, * et lingua sua mentíti sunt ei.	36 And they loved him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied unto him:
41  Cor autem eórum non erat rectum cum eo: * nec fidéles hábiti sunt in testaménto ejus.	37 But their heart was not right with him: nor were they counted faithful in his covenant.
42 Ipse autem est miséricors, et propítius fiet peccátis eórum: * et non dispérdet eos.	38 But he is merciful, and will forgive their sins: and will not destroy them.
43  Et abundávit ut avérteret iram suam: * et non accéndit omnem iram suam:	And many a time did he turn away his anger: and did not kindle all his wrath.
44  Et recordátus est quia caro sunt: * spíritus vadens et non rédiens.	39 And he remembered that they are flesh: a wind that goes and returns not.
45  Quóties exacerbavérunt eum in desérto, *  in iram concitavérunt eum in inaquóso?	40 How often did they provoke him in the desert: and move him to wrath in the place without water?
46  Et convérsi sunt, et tentavérunt Deum: * et Sanctum Israël exacerbavérunt	41 And they turned back and tempted God: and grieved the holy one of Israel.
47 Non sunt recordáti manus ejus, * die qua redémit eos de manu tribulántis.	42 They remembered not his hand, in the day that he redeemed them from the hand of him that afflicted them:
48  Sicut pósuit in Ægypto signa sua, * et prodígia sua in campo Táneos.	43 How he wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Tanis.
49  Et convértit in sánguinem flúmina eórum: * et imbres eórum, ne bíberent.	44 And he turned their rivers into blood, and their showers that they might not drink.
50  Misit in eos cœnomyíam, et comédit eos: * et ranam, et dispérdidit eos.	45 He sent amongst them divers sorts of flies, which devoured them: and frogs which destroyed them.
51  Et dedit ærúgini fructus eórum: * et labóres eórum locústæ.	46 And he gave up their fruits to the blast, and their labours to the locust.
52  Et occídit in grándine víneas eórum: * et moros eórum in pruína.	47 And he destroyed their vineyards with hail, and their mulberry trees with hoarfrost.
53  Et trádidit grándini juménta eórum: * et possessiónem eórum igni.	48 And he gave up their cattle to the hail, and their stock to the fire.
54  Misit  in eos iram indignatiónis suæ: * indignatiónem, et iram, et tribulatiónem: immissiónes per ángelos malos.	49 And he sent upon them the wrath of his indignation: indignation and wrath and trouble, which he sent by evil angels.
55  Viam fecit sémitæ iræ suæ, non pepércit a morte animábus eórum: * et juménta eórum in morte conclúsit.	50 He made a way for a path to his anger: he spared not their souls from death, and their cattle he shut up in death.
56  Et percússit omne primogénitum in terra Ægypti: * primítias omnis labóris eórum in tabernáculis Cham	51 And he killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: the firstfruits of all their labour in the tabernacles of Cham.
57  Et ábstulit sicut oves pópulum suum: * et perdúxit eos tamquam gregem in desérto.	52 And he took away his own people as sheep: and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
58  Et dedúxit eos in spe, et non timuérunt: * et inimícos eórum opéruit mare.	53 And he brought them out in hope and they feared not: and the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
59  Et indúxit eos in montem sanctificatiónis suæ: * montem, quem acquisívit déxtera ejus.	54 And he brought them into the mountain of his sanctuary: the mountain which his right hand had purchased.
60  Et ejécit a fácie eórum Gentes: * et sorte divísit eis terram in funículo distributiónis.	And he cast out the Gentiles before them: and by lot divided to them their land by a line of distribution.
61  Et habitáre fecit in tabernáculis eórum: * tribus Israël.	55 And he made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tabernacles.
62  Et tentavérunt, et exacerbavérunt Deum excélsum: * et testimónia ejus non custodiérunt.	56 Yet they tempted, and provoked the most high God: and they kept not his testimonies.
63  Et avertérunt se, et non servavérunt pactum: * quemádmodum patres eórum convérsi sunt in arcum pravum.	57 And they turned away, and kept not the covenant: even like their fathers they were turned aside as a crooked bow.
64  In iram concitavérunt eum in cóllibus suis: * et in sculptílibus suis ad æmulatiónem eum provocavérunt.	58 They provoked him to anger on their hills: and moved him to jealousy with their graven things.
65  Audívit Deus, et sprevit: * et ad níhilum redégit valde Israël.	59 God heard, and despised them, and he reduced Israel exceedingly as it were to nothing.
66  Et répulit tabernáculum Silo: * tabernáculum suum, ubi habitávit in homínibus.	60 And he put away the tabernacle of Silo, his tabernacle where he dwelt among men.
67  Et trádidit in captivitátem virtútem eórum: * et pulchritúdinem eórum in manus inimíci.	61 And he delivered their strength into captivity: and their beauty into the hands of the enemy.
68  Et conclúsit in gládio pópulum suum: * et hereditátem suam sprevit.	62 And he shut up his people under the sword: and he despised his inheritance.
69  Júvenes eórum comédit ignis: * et vírgines eórum non sunt lamentátæ.	63 Fire consumed their young men: and their maidens were not lamented.
70  Sacerdótes eórum in gládio cecidérunt: * et víduæ eórum non plorabántur.	64 Their priests fell by the sword: and their widows did not mourn.
71  Et excitátus est tamquam dórmiens Dóminus: * tamquam potens crapulátus a vino.	65 And the Lord was awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that has been surfeited with wine.
72  Et percússit inimícos suos in posterióra: * oppróbrium sempitérnum dedit illis.	66 And he smote his enemies on the hinder parts: he put them to an everlasting reproach.
73  Et répulit tabernáculum Joseph: * et tribum Ephraim non elégit.	67 And he rejected the tabernacle of Joseph: and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
74  Sed elégit tribum Juda, * montem Sion quem diléxit.	68 But he chose the tribe of Juda, mount Sion which he loved.
75  Et ædificávit sicut unicórnium sanctifícium suum in terra, * quam fundávit in sæcula.	69 And he built his sanctuary as of unicorns, in the land which he founded for ever.
76  Et elégit David, servum suum, et sústulit eum de grégibus óvium: * de post fœtántes accépit eum,	70 And he chose his servant David, and took him from the flocks of sheep: he brought him from following the ewes great with young,
77  Páscere Jacob, servum suum, * et Israël, hereditátem suam:	71 to feed Jacob his servant and Israel his inheritance.
78  Et pavit eos in innocéntia cordis sui: * et in intelléctibus mánuum suárum dedúxit eos.	72 And he fed them in the innocence of his heart: and conducted them by the skilfulness of his hands.

Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

NT references	Mt 13:34-5 (2); Acts 2: 40  (10-11); 1 Cor 10:1-4 (18); 1 Cor 10:9 (21); 1 Cor 10:3  (29); 1 Cor 9-10  (34-5); Jn 6: 30-33 (28)
RB cursus	Thursday matins I, 4-5
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc
Responsories	Lent 4 (&W/s):v 1-2
Roman pre 1911	Thursday Matins
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Friday Matins . 1970: Advent, Christmas, Lent and Eastertide only.
Mass propers (EF)	Lent 3 Thursday IN (1); Easter Wednesday OF (27-29); Whit Tuesday IN (1); PP 19, IN (1)