Psalm 36: Overview

In the Benedictine Office, Psalm 36 is divided into two parts, and said on Moday at Matins.

Cassiodorus suggested that:

Its entire point is the correction of manners, for the Church, here introduced as spokeswoman, instructs the human race by her saving commands not to become involved in deadly errors. She deters the wicked with the punishment, and promises rewards to the good. This type of teaching is extremely effective, causing the arrogant to be humbled, and the humble to gain worthy consolation. 

He notes that this is one of the Hebrew alphabetical psalms:

There is also the ordered disposition of the Hebrew alphabet minus the sixteenth letter. As we have already said in earlier discussion, we consider this attributable to those deficient in some degree in the perfection of behaviour of holy men. Since all the Hebrew letters have their meaning, it is perhaps right to believe that an alphabet short of a particular letter does not embrace its meaning either.

 Its structure, he suggests is that:

 First she warns that none should imitate the malevolent. Whatever blessing we should hope for is to be demanded of the Lord, who can both grant what will aid us and bestow what will abide for ever. Six letters of the Hebrew alphabet are contained in this section. In the second part she says that sinners here are tortured by the most severe suffering of envy, for they realise that in their own actions they evince nothing comparably good. This section contains seven letters. In the third part she proclaims that she has never seen a just man abandoned, and she intermingles the punishments of the wicked and the rewards of the good in profitable interchange. This section contains the remaining eight letters.

The text of the psalm

Psalm 36/1  

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Psalmus ipsi David	-
Noli æmulári in malignántibus: * neque zeláveris faciéntes iniquitátem.	Be not emulous of evildoers; nor envy them that work iniquity
Quóniam tamquam fœnum velóciter aréscent: * et quemádmodum ólera herbárum cito décident.	For they shall shortly wither away as grass, and as the green herbs shall quickly fall.
Spera in Dómino, et fac bonitátem: * et inhábita terram, et pascéris in divítiis ejus.	Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land, and you shall be fed with its riches.
Delectáre in Dómino: * et dabit tibi petitiónes cordis tui.	Delight in the Lord, and he will give you the requests of your heart.
Revéla Dómino viam tuam, et spera in eo: * et ipse fáciet.	Commit your way to the Lord, and trust in him, and he will do it.
Et edúcet quasi lumen justítiam tuam: et judícium tuum tamquam merídiem: * súbditus esto Dómino, et ora eum.	And he will bring forth your justice as the light, and your judgment as the noonday. Be subject to the Lord and pray to him.
Noli æmulári in eo, qui prosperátur in via sua: * in hómine faciénte injustítias.	Envy not the man who prospers in his way; the man who does unjust things.
Désine ab ira, et derelínque furórem: * noli æmulári ut malignéris.	Cease from anger, and leave rage; have no emulation to do evil.
Quóniam qui malignántur, exterminabúntur: * sustinéntes autem Dóminum, ipsi hereditábunt terram.	For evildoers shall be cut off: but they that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the land.
Et adhuc pusíllum, et non erit peccátor: * et quæres locum ejus et non invénies.	For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: and you shall seek his place, and shall not find it.
Mansuéti autem hereditábunt terram: * et delectabúntur in multitúdine pacis.	But the meek shall inherit the land, and shall delight in abundance of peace.
Observábit peccátor justum: * et stridébit super eum déntibus suis.	The sinner shall watch the just man: and shall gnash upon him with his teeth.
Dóminus autem irridébit eum: * quóniam próspicit quod véniet dies ejus.	But the Lord shall laugh at him: for he foresees that his day shall come.
Gládium evaginavérunt peccatóres: * intendérunt arcum suum,	The wicked have drawn out the sword: they have bent their bow.
Ut dejíciant páuperem et ínopem: * ut trucídent rectos corde.	To cast down the poor and needy, to kill the upright of heart.
Gládius eórum intret in corda ipsórum: * et arcus eórum confringátur.	Let their sword enter into their own hearts, and let their bow be broken
Mélius est módicum justo, * super divítias peccatórum multas.	Better is a little to the just, than the great riches of the wicked.
Quóniam bráchia peccatórum conteréntur: * confírmat autem justos Dóminus.	For the arms of the wicked shall be broken in pieces; but the Lord strengthens the just.
Novit Dóminus dies immaculatórum: * et heréditas eórum in ætérnum erit.	The Lord knows the days of the undefiled; and their inheritance shall be for ever.
Non confundéntur in témpore malo, et in diébus famis saturabúntur: * quia peccatóres períbunt.	They shall not be confounded in the evil time; and in the days of famine they shall be filled: Because the wicked shall perish.
Inimíci vero Dómini mox ut honorificáti fúerint et exaltáti: * deficiéntes, quemádmodum fumus defícient.	And the enemies of the Lord, presently after they shall be honoured and exalted, shall come to nothing and vanish like smoke.
Mutuábitur peccátor, et non solvet: * justus autem miserétur et tríbuet.	The sinner shall borrow, and not pay again; but the just shows mercy and shall give.
Quia benedicéntes ei hereditábunt terram: * maledicéntes autem ei disperíbunt.	For such as bless him shall inherit the land: but such as curse him shall perish.
Apud Dóminum gressus hóminis dirigéntur: * et viam ejus volet.	With the Lord shall the steps of a man be directed, and he shall like well his way.
Cum cecíderit non collidétur: * quia Dóminus suppónit manum suam.	When he shall fall he shall not be bruised, for the Lord puts his hand under him.
Júnior fui, étenim sénui: * et non vidi justum derelíctum, nec semen ejus quærens panem.	I have been young and now am old; and I have not seen the just forsaken, nor his seed seeking bread.
Tota die miserétur et cómmodat: * et semen illíus in benedictióne erit.	He shows mercy, and lends all the day long; and his seed shall be in blessing

(divisio)

Psalm 36/2

Declína a malo, et fac bonum: * et inhábita in sæculum sæculi.	Decline from evil and do good, and dwell for ever and ever.
Quia Dóminus amat judícium, et non derelínquet sanctos suos: * in ætérnum conservabúntur.	For the Lord loves judgment, and will not forsake his saints: they shall be preserved for ever.
Injústi puniéntur: * et semen impiórum períbit.	The unjust shall be punished, and the seed of the wicked shall perish.
Justi autem hereditábunt terram: * et inhabitábunt in sæculum sæculi super eam.	But the just shall inherit the land, and shall dwell therein for evermore
Os justi meditábitur sapiéntiam, * et lingua ejus loquétur judícium.	The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom: and his tongue shall speak judgment
Lex Dei ejus in corde ipsíus, * et non supplantabúntur gressus ejus.	The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be supplanted.
Consíderat peccátor justum: * et quærit mortificáre eum.	The wicked watches the just man, and seeks to put him to death,
Dóminus autem non derelínquet eum in mánibus ejus: * nec damnábit eum, cum judicábitur illi.	but the Lord will not leave him in his hands; nor condemn him when he shall be judged.
Exspécta Dóminum, et custódi viam ejus: et exaltábit te ut hereditáte cápias terram: * cum períerint peccatóres vidébis.	Expect the Lord and keep his way: and he will exalt you to inherit the land: when the sinners shall perish you shall see.
Vidi ímpium superexaltátum, * et elevátum sicut cedros Líbani.	I have seen the wicked highly exalted, and lifted up like the cedars of Libanus.
Et transívi, et ecce non erat: * et quæsívi eum, et non est invéntus locus ejus.	And I passed by, and lo, he was not: and I sought him and his place was not found.
Custódi innocéntiam, et vide æquitátem: * quóniam sunt relíquiæ hómini pacífico.	Keep innocence, and behold justice: for there are remnants for the peaceable man
Injústi autem disperíbunt simul: * relíquiæ impiórum interíbunt.	But the unjust shall be destroyed together: the remnants of the wicked shall perish.
Salus autem justórum a Dómino: * et protéctor eórum in témpore tribulatiónis.	But the salvation of the just is from the Lord, and he is their protector in the time of trouble.
Et adjuvábit eos Dóminus et liberábit eos: * et éruet eos a peccatóribus, et salvábit eos: quia speravérunt in eo.	And the Lord will help them and deliver and he will rescue them from the wicked, and save them because they have hoped in him.

Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

NT references	Mt 6:33 (4); Mt 6:25 (5) Mt 5:4 (11); Acts 7:54 (12); Heb 11: 7 (31)
RB cursus	Matins Monday I, 4-5
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc	-
Roman pre 1911	Monday Matins
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Tuesday Matins  . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)	-