This final psalm of the Matins segment of Maundy Thursday Tenebrae opens by depicting the Lord, still keeping vigil in the Garden as he waits for his arrest, devoid of comfort:
"I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, that he may hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted... I am so troubled that I cannot speak." (RSV)
The problem he is struggling with is the fate of mankind, which hangs now in the balance:
"Will the Lord spurn for ever, and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love for ever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?"
Yet, the psalm reminds us, this is the God who saves, who parted the Red Sea to lead his people out of Egypt, and will do so again in the baptism of the Cross. We can have no doubt of the answer, for God's love for us is infinite.
The real question is whether we in turn can respond to this great love poured out as grace for us, and take up the path of sanctity and salvation.
Psalm 76
Vulgate
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Douay-Rheims
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In
finem, pro Idithun. Psalmus Asaph
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Unto the end, for Idithun, a psalm of Asaph.
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1 Voce mea ad Dóminum clamávi: * voce mea ad Deum, et
inténdit mihi.
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I
cried to the Lord with my voice; to God with my voice, and he gave ear to me.
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2
In die tribulatiónis meæ Deum exquisívi, mánibus meis nocte contra eum: * et
non sum decéptus.
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3
In the days of my trouble I sought God, with my hands lifted up to him in the
night, and I was not deceived.
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3
Rénuit consolári ánima mea, * memor fui Dei, et delectátus sum, et
exercitátus sum: et defécit spíritus meus.
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My
soul refused to be comforted: 4 I remembered God, and was delighted, and was
exercised, and my spirit swooned away.
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4
Anticipavérunt vigílias óculi mei: * turbátus sum, et non sum locútus.
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5
My eyes prevented the watches: I was troubled, and I spoke not.
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5
Cogitávi dies antíquos: * et annos ætérnos in mente hábui.
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6
I thought upon the days of old: and I had in my mind the eternal years.
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6
Et meditátus sum nocte cum corde meo, * et exercitábar, et scopébam spíritum
meum.
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7And
I meditated in the night with my own heart: and I was exercised and I swept
my spirit.
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7
Numquid in ætérnum projíciet Deus: * aut non appónet ut complacítior sit
adhuc?
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8
Will God then cast off forever? Or will he never be more favourable again?
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8
Aut in finem misericórdiam suam abscíndet, * a generatióne in generatiónem?
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9
Or will he cut off his mercy forever, from generation to generation?
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9
Aut obliviscétur miseréri Deus: * aut continébit in ira sua misericórdias
suas?
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10
Or will God forget to show mercy? Or will he in his anger shut up his mercies?
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10
Et dixi: Nunc cœpi: * hæc mutátio déxteræ Excélsi.
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11
And I said, Now have I begun: this is the change of the right hand of the most
High.
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11 Memor fui óperum Dómini: * quia memor ero ab inítio
mirabílium tuórum.
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12
I remembered the works of the Lord: for I will be mindful of your wonders
from the beginning.
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12
Et meditábor in ómnibus opéribus tuis: * et in adinventiónibus tuis exercébor.
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13
And I will meditate on all your works: and will be employed in your
inventions.
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13 Deus, in sancto via tua: quis Deus magnus sicut Deus
noster? * tu es Deus qui facis mirabília.
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14
Your way, O God, is in the holy place: who is the great God like our God? 15 You
are the God that does wonders.
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14
Notam fecísti in pópulis virtútem tuam: * Redemísti in bráchio tuo pópulum
tuum fílios Jacob et Joseph.
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You
have made your power known among the nations:16 With your arm you have redeemed
your people the children of Jacob and of Joseph.
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15
Vidérunt te aquæ, Deus, vidérunt te aquæ: * et timuérunt et turbátæ sunt
abyssi.
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17
The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you: and they were afraid, and the depths
were troubled.
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16 Multitúdo sónitus aquárum: * vocem dedérunt nubes.
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18
Great was the noise of the waters: the clouds sent out a sound.
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17
Etenim sagíttæ tuæ tránseunt: * vox tonítrui tui in rota.
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For
your arrows pass: 19 The voice of your thunder in a wheel.
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18
Illuxérunt coruscatiónes tuæ orbi terræ: * commóta est, et contrémuit terra.
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Your
lightnings enlightened the world: the earth shook and trembled.
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19 In mari via tua, et sémitæ tuæ in aquis multis : *
et vestígia tua non cognoscéntur.
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20
Your way is in the sea, and your paths in many waters: and your footsteps
shall not be known.
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20
Deduxísti sicut oves pópulum tuum, * in manu Móysi et Aaron.
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21
You have conducted your people like sheep, by the hand of Moses and Aaron
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NT references
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Roms 9:6 (8); Heb 12:26 (18)
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RB cursus
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Matins Thursday, I, 3
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Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc
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Maundy Thurs Tenebrae, III, 3
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Responsories
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Easter 4&5 v17-19
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Roman pre 1911
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Friday Compline
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Roman post 1911
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1911-62:
Thursday Matins. 1970:
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Mass propers (EF)
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Tenebrae of Holy Thursday
Nocturn I: Psalms 68, 69, 70
Nocturn II: Psalms 71, 72, 73
Nocturn III: Psalms 74, 75, 76
