Psalm 88 Overview

In the Benedictine Office, Psalm 88 is usually said at Matins on Fridays, divided into two parts as shown below.

It is also used, however, in whole, on the feasts of the Nativity and the Transfiguration.

St Alphonsus Liguori commented on it that:

St. Jerome divides this psalm into three parts. The first recalls the promise, several times repeated, which God made to David to maintain always royalty in the family. The second teaches us that this promise was not entirely fulfilled in the sons according to the flesh, nor in the temporal kingdom of David. The third shows us the prophet sighing for the coming of the Messias, in whom all was to be fully realized, since he alone was to put an end to the tribulations of his people. This is the reason why the Church recites this psalm in the Office of Christmas.

The text of the psalm

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Intellectus Ethan Ezrahitæ.	Of understanding, for Ethan the Ezrahite.
1 Misericórdias Dómini * in ætérnum cantábo.	The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever.
2  In generatiónem et generatiónem * annuntiábo veritátem tuam in ore meo.	I will show forth your truth with my mouth to generation and generation.
3  Quóniam dixísti : In ætérnum misericórdia ædificábitur in cælis: * præparábitur véritas tua in eis.	3 For you have said: Mercy shall be built up for ever in the heavens: your truth shall be prepared in them.
4  Dispósui testaméntum eléctis meis, jurávi David, servo meo: * Usque in ætérnum præparábo semen tuum.	4 I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my servant: 5 Your seed will I settle for ever.
5  Et ædificábo in generatiónem et generatiónem * sedem tuam.	And I will build up your throne unto generation and generation.
6  Confitebúntur cæli mirabília tua, Dómine, * étenim veritátem tuam in ecclésia sanctórum.	6 The heavens shall confess your wonders, O Lord: and your truth in the church of the saints.
7  Quóniam quis in núbibus æquábitur Dómino: * símilis erit Dómino in fíliis Dei?	7 For who in the clouds can be compared to the Lord: or who among the sons of God shall be like to God?
8  Deus, qui glorificátur in consílio sanctórum: * magnus et terríbilis super omnes qui in circúitu ejus sunt.	8 God, who is glorified in the assembly of the saints: great and terrible above all them that are about him.
9  Dómine, Deus virtútum, quis símilis tibi? * potens es, Dómine, et véritas tua in circúitu tuo.	9 O Lord God of hosts, who is like to you? You are mighty, O Lord, and your truth is round about you.
10  Tu domináris potestáti maris: * motum autem flúctuum ejus tu mítigas.	10 You rule the power of the sea: and appease the motion of the waves thereof.
11  Tu humiliásti sicut vulnerátum, supérbum: * in bráchio virtútis tuæ dispersísti inimícos tuos.	11 You have humbled the proud one, as one that is slain: with the arm of your strength you have scattered your enemies.
12  Tui sunt cæli, et tua est terra, orbem terræ et plenitúdinem ejus tu fundásti: * aquilónem, et mare tu creásti.	12 Yours are the heavens, and yours is the earth: the world and the fullness thereof you have founded: 13 The north and the sea you have created.
13  Thabor et Hermon in nómine tuo exsultábunt: * tuum bráchium cum poténtia.	Thabor and Hermon shall rejoice in your name: 14 Your arm is with might.
14  Firmétur manus tua, et exaltétur déxtera tua: * justítia et judícium præparátio sedis tuæ.	Let your hand be strengthened and your right hand exalted: 15 Justice and judgment are the preparation of your throne.
15  Misericórdia et véritas præcédent fáciem tuam: * beátus pópulus, qui scit jubilatiónem.	Mercy and truth shall go before your face: 16 Blessed is the people that knows jubilation.
16  Dómine, in lúmine vultus tui ambulábunt, et in nómine tuo exsultábunt tota die: * et in justítia tua exaltabúntur.	They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance: 17 And in your name they shall rejoice all the day, and in your justice they shall be exalted.
17  Quóniam glória virtútis eórum tu es: * et in beneplácito tuo exaltábitur cornu nostrum.	18 For you are the glory of their strength: and in your good pleasure shall our horn be exalted.
18  Quia Dómini est assúmptio nostra, * et Sancti Israël, regis nostri.	19 For our protection is of the Lord, and of our king the holy one of Israel.

 (divisio) 

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
19 Tunc locútus es in visióne sanctis tuis, et dixísti: * Pósui adjutórium in poténte : et exaltávi eléctum de plebe mea.	20 Then you spoke in a vision to your saints, and said: I have laid help upon one that is mighty, and have exalted one chosen out of my people.
20  Invéni David, servum meum: * óleo sancto meo unxi eum.	21 I have found David my servant: with my holy oil I have anointed him.
21  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei: * et bráchium meum confortábit eum.	22 For my hand shall help him: and my arm shall strengthen him.
22  Nihil profíciet inimícus in eo: * et fílius iniquitátis non appónet nocére ei.	23 The enemy shall have no advantage over him: nor the son of iniquity have power to hurt him.
23  Et concídam a fácie ipsíus inimícos ejus: * et odiéntes eum in fugam convértam.	24 And I will cut down his enemies before his face; and them that hate him I will put to flight.
24  Et véritas mea, et misericórdia mea cum ipso: * et in nómine meo exaltábitur cornu ejus.	25 And my truth and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25  Et ponam in mari manum ejus: * et in flumínibus déxteram ejus.	26 And I will set his hand in the sea; and his right hand in the rivers.
26  Ipse invocábit me: Pater meus es tu: * Deus meus, et suscéptor salútis meæ.	27 He shall cry out to me: You are my father: my God, and the support of my salvation.
27  Et ego primogénitum ponam illum: * excélsum præ régibus terræ.	28 And I will make him my firstborn, high above the kings of the earth.
28  In ætérnum servábo illi misericórdiam meam: * et testaméntum meum fidéle ipsi.	29 I will keep my mercy for him for ever: and my covenant faithful to him.
29  Et ponam in sæculum sæculi semen ejus: * et thronum ejus sicut dies cæli.	30 And I will make his seed to endure for evermore: and his throne as the days of heaven.
30  Si autem derelíquerint fílii ejus legem meam: * et in judíciis meis non ambuláverint.	31 And if his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments: 32 If they profane my justices: and keep not my commandments:
31  Si justítias meas profanáverint: * et mandáta mea non custodíerint :	31 And if his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments: 32 If they profane my justices: and keep not my commandments:
32  Visitábo in virga iniquitátes eórum: * et in verbéribus peccáta eórum.	33 I will visit their iniquities with a rod and their sins with stripes.
33  Misericórdiam autem meam non dispérgam ab eo: * neque nocébo in veritáte mea :	34 But my mercy I will not take away from him: nor will I suffer my truth to fail.
34  Neque profanábo testaméntum meum: * et quæ procédunt de lábiis meis, non fáciam írrita.	35 Neither will I profane my covenant: and the words that proceed from my mouth I will not make void.
35  Semel jurávi in sancto meo: Si David méntiar: * semen ejus in ætérnum manébit.	36 Once have I sworn by my holiness: I will not lie unto David: 37 His seed shall endure for ever.
36  Et thronus ejus sicut sol in conspéctu meo, * et sicut luna perfécta in ætérnum : et testis in cælo fidélis.	38 And his throne as the sun before me: and as the moon perfect for ever, and a faithful witness in heaven.
37  Tu vero repulísti et despexísti: * distulísti Christum tuum.	39 But you have rejected and despised: you have been angry with my anointed.
38  Evertísti testaméntum servi tui: * profanásti in terra Sanctuárium ejus.	40 You have overthrown the covenant of your servant: you have profaned his sanctuary on the earth.
39  Destruxísti omnes sepes ejus: * posuísti firmaméntum ejus formídinem.	41 You have broken down all his hedges: you have made his strength fear.
40  Diripuérunt eum omnes transeúntes viam: * factus est oppróbrium vicínis suis.	42 All that pass by the way have robbed him: he has become a reproach to his neighbours.
41  Exaltásti déxteram depriméntium eum: * lætificásti omnes inimícos ejus.	43 You have set up the right hand of them that oppress him: you have made all his enemies to rejoice.
42  Avertísti adjutórium gládii ejus: * et non es auxiliátus ei in bello.	44 You have turned away the help of his sword; and have not assisted him in battle.
43  Destruxísti eum ab emundatióne: * et sedem ejus in terram collisísti.	45 You have made his purification to cease: and you have cast his throne down to the ground.
44  Minorásti dies témporis ejus: * perfudísti eum confusióne.	46 You have shortened the days of his time: you have covered him with confusion.
45 Usquequo, Dómine, avértis in finem: * exardéscet sicut ignis ira tua?	47 How long, O Lord, will you turn away unto the end? Shall your anger burn like fire?
46  Memoráre quæ mea substántia: * numquid enim vane constituísti omnes fílios hóminum?	48 Remember what my substance is: for have you made all the children of men in vain?
47  Quis est homo, qui vivet, et non vidébit mortem: * éruet ánimam suam de manu ínferi?	49 Who is the man that shall live, and not see death: that shall deliver his soul from the hand of hell?
48  Ubi sunt misericórdiæ tuæ antíquæ, Dómine: * sicut jurásti David in veritáte tua?	50 Lord, where are your ancient mercies, according to what you swore to David in your truth?
49  Memor esto, Dómine, oppróbrii servórum tuórum: * (quod contínui in sinu meo) multárum Géntium.	51 Be mindful, O Lord, of the reproach of your servants (which I have held in my bosom) of many nations:
50  Quod exprobravérunt inimíci tui, Dómine, * quod exprobravérunt commutatiónem Christi tui.	52 Wherewith your enemies have reproached, O Lord; wherewith they have reproached the change of your anointed.
51  Benedíctus Dóminus in ætérnum: * fiat, fiat.	53 Blessed be the Lord for evermore. So be it. So be it.

St Augustine in the City of God

St Augustine provided an extended commentary on this psalm in his City of God (Bk 9).  The first chapter of it is set out below:

Chapter 9.— How Like the Prophecy About Christ in the 88th Psalm is to the Things Promised in Nathan's Prophecy in the Books of Samuel.

Wherefore also in the 88th Psalm, of which the title is, An instruction for himself by Ethan the Israelite, mention is made of the promises God made to king David, and some things are there added similar to those found in the Book of Samuel, such as this, I have sworn to David my servant that I will prepare his seed for ever. And again, Then you spoke in vision to your sons, and said, I have laid help upon the mighty One, and have exalted the chosen One out of my people. I have found David my servant, and with my holy oil I have anointed him. For mine hand shall help him, and mine arm shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not prevail against him, and the son of iniquity shall harm him no more. And I will beat down his foes from before his face, and those that hate him will I put to flight. And my truth and my mercy shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto me, You are my Father, my God, and the undertaker of my salvation. Also I will make him my first-born, high among the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall be faithful (sure) with him. His seed also will I set for ever and ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. Which words, when rightly understood, are all understood to be about the Lord Jesus Christ, under the name of David, on account of the form of a servant, which the same Mediator assumed from the virgin of the seed of David. For immediately something is said about the sins of his children, such as is set down in the Book of Samuel, and is more readily taken as if of Solomon. For there, that is, in the Book of Samuel, he says, And if he commit iniquity I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the sons of men; but my mercy will I not take away from him, meaning by stripes the strokes of correction. Hence that saying, Touch ye not my christs. For what else is that than, Do not harm them? But in the psalm, when speaking as if of David, He says something of the same kind there too. If his children, says He, forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; if they profane my righteousnesses, and keep not my commandments; I will visit their iniquities with the rod, and their faults with stripes: but my mercy I will not make void from him. He did not say from them, although He spoke of his children, not of himself; but he said from him, which means the same thing if rightly understood. For of Christ Himself, who is the head of the Church, there could not be found any sins which required to be divinely restrained by human correction, mercy being still continued; but they are found in His body and members, which is His people. Therefore in the Book of Samuel it is said, iniquity of Him, but in the psalm, of His children, that we may understand that what is said of His body is in some way said of Himself. Wherefore also, when Saul persecuted His body, that is, His believing people, He Himself says from heaven, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Then in the following words of the psalm He says, Neither will I hurt in my truth, nor profane my covenant, and the things that proceed from my lips I will not disallow. Once have I sworn by my holiness, if I lie unto David, — that is, I will in no wise lie unto David; for Scripture is wont to speak thus. But what that is in which He will not lie, He adds, saying, His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me, and as the moon perfected for ever, and a faithful witness in heaven.

Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

NT references	Lk1:50 (2); Jn 7:42, Acts 2:30 (4); Mt 8:23-27 (10);Col 1:15-18, Hebrews 1:6, Rev 1:5  (27);
RB cursus	Friday Matins I, 3&4
Monastic/(Roman)   feasts etc	Nativity; Transfiguration
Roman pre 1911	Friday Matins
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Friday None . 1970: Wednesday Readings, wk 3
Mass propers (EF)	Precious Blood, IN (1-2)