Psalm 27 - Overview

Just to continue my process of putting at least marker post for each psalm, including information on its liturgical uses, some brief notes on Psalm 27, which is said at Sunday Matins in the Benedictine office, presumably because of its references to the Resurrection, also the reason for its use in Matins of Easter Day.

St Augustine, in his commentary on it, suggested that this is the prayer of Christ himself in the Passion, predicting his Resurrection.

But as St Alphonsus Liguori commented, it is readily applicable to each of us:

David, in the midst of persecutions, implores the help of God, and foretells his triumph. There is not one among the faithful who cannot apply this psalm to himself in view of the temptations and perils of which his life here upon earth is so full.

The text of the psalm

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Psalmus ipsi David.	A psalm for David himself.

Ad te, Dómine, clamábo, Deus meus, ne síleas a me: * nequándo táceas a me, et assimilábor descendéntibus in lacum.	Unto you will I cry, O Lord: O my God, be not silent to me: lest if you be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
Exáudi, Dómine, vocem deprecatiónis meæ dum oro ad te: * dum extóllo manus meas ad templum sanctum tuum.	Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication, when I pray to you; when I lift up my hands to your holy temple.
Ne simul trahas me cum peccatóribus: * et cum operántibus iniquitátem ne perdas me.	Draw me not away together with the wicked; and with the workers of iniquity destroy me not:
Qui loquúntur pacem cum próximo suo, * mala autem in córdibus eórum.	Who speak peace with their neighbour, but evils are in their hearts.
Da illis secúndum ópera eórum, * et secúndum nequítiam adinventiónum ipsórum.	Give them according to their works, and according to the wickedness of their inventions.
Secúndum ópera mánuum eórum tríbue illis, * redde retributiónem eórum ipsis.	According to the works of their hands give to them: render to them their reward.
Quóniam non intellexérunt ópera Dómini, et in ópera mánuum eius * déstrues illos, et non ædificábis eos.	Because they have not understood the works of the Lord, and the operations of his hands: you shall destroy them, and shall not build them up.
Benedíctus Dóminus, * quóniam exaudívit vocem deprecatiónis meæ.	Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard the voice of my supplication.
Dóminus adiútor meus, et protéctor meus: * in ipso sperávit cor meum et adiútus sum.	The Lord is my helper and my protector: in him has my heart confided, and I have been helped
Et reflóruit caro mea: * et ex voluntáte mea confitébor ei.	And my flesh has flourished again, and with my will I will give praise to him.
Dóminus fortitúdo plebis suæ: * et protéctor salvatiónum Christi sui est.	The Lord is the strength of his people, and the protector of the salvation of his anointed.
Salvum fac pópulum tuum, Dómine, et bénedic hereditáti tuæ, * et rege eos, et extólle illos usque in ætérnum.	Save, O Lord, your people, and bless your inheritance: and rule them and exalt them forever.
Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.	Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.	As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Scriptural and liturgical uses

NT references	Rev 2012ff; Rev 22:12 (5-6)
RB cursus	Sunday Matins II, 2
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc	Easter
Roman pre 1911	Monday Matins
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Monday Terce . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)	Lent 2 Wednesday (1, 12); Lent 3 Friday GR (1, 9); PP 6, IN (1, 9, 12); PP 11 (1, 9)