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)	-