Psalm 94 - Hold fast!

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W83, Digital Walters

Psalm 94 has a unique place in the Office musically as it is the only psalm normally performed responsorially.

In the Benedictine Office it is said at Matins each day with a short refrain, half or all of which is repeated after each group of verses.  There are refrains for each day of the week, and special ones for feasts and particular seasons of the year.  Friday's refrain is 'Let us adore the Lord, *for he himself made us', a reminder that man was created on the 'sixth day' - you can listen to a Cistercian chant setting of the refrain and the psalm sung responsorially below.

The verses themselves have a special set of chants that are used for them.

These chants are very ancient indeed, and explain why the translation of the psalm used is not the Vulgate, but the 'old Roman' that pre-dated it.

All this serves to emphasis the particular importance of this psalm.

 Psalm 94: Daily at Matins

Vulgate	Psalter (Vetus latina)	Douay-Rheims
Laus cantici ipsi David.		Praise of a canticle for David himself.
1 Venite, exsultemus Domino; jubilemus Deo salutari nostro;	1. Veníte, exsultémus Dómino, jubilémus Deo, salutári nostro:	Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God our saviour.
2 præoccupemus faciem ejus in confessione, et in psalmis jubilemus ei	præoccupémus fáciem ejus in confessióne, et in psalmis jubilémus ei.	2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.
3 quoniam Deus magnus Dominus, et rex magnus super omnes deos.	2. Quóniam Deus magnus Dóminus, et Rex magnus super omnes deos	3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 Quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, et altitudines montium ipsius sunt;	: quóniam non repéllet Dóminus plebem suam : quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, et altitúdines móntium ipse cónspicit.	4 For in his hand are all the ends of the earth: and the heights of the mountains are his.
5 quoniam ipsius est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et siccam manus ejus formaverunt	3. Quóniam ipsíus est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et áridam fundavérunt manus ejus	5 For the sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
6  Venite, adoremus, et procidamus, et ploremus ante Dominum qui fecit nos:	Veníte, adorémus, et procidámus ante Deum : plorémus coram Dómino, qui fecit nos,	6 Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us.
7  quia ipse est Dominus Deus noster, et nos populus pascuæ ejus, et oves manus ejus.	quia ipse est Dóminus Deus noster ; nos autem pópulus ejus, et oves páscuæ ejus.	7 For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
8 Hodie si vocem ejus audieritis, nolite obdurare corda vestra	4. Hódie, si vocem ejus audiéritis, nolíte obduráre corda vestra,	8 Today if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts:
9 sicut in irritatione, secundum diem tentationis in deserto, ubi tentaverunt me patres vestri : probaverunt me, et viderunt opera mea.	sicut in exacerbatióne, secúndum diem tentatiónis in desérto : ubi tentavérunt me patres vestri, probavérunt et vidérunt ópera mea.	9 As in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness: where your fathers tempted me, they proved me, and saw my works.
10 Quadraginta annis offensus fui generationi illi, et dixi : Semper hi errant corde.	5. Quadragínta annis próximus fui generatióni huic, et dixi : Semper hi errant corde ;	10 Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and I said: These always err in heart.
11 Et isti non cognoverunt vias meas : ut juravi in ira mea : Si introibunt in requiem meam.	ipsi vero non cognovérunt vias meas : quibus jurávi in ira mea : Si introíbunt in réquiem meam.	11 And these men have not known my ways: so I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest.

Why does St Benedict give it such a prominent place in the Office?

One reason, I would suggest, is the extended exegesis of it provided in Hebrews.  Here is the first section of that, Hebrews 3:7-16:

 Come, then, the Holy Spirit says, If you hear his voice speaking to you this day, do not harden your hearts, as they were hardened once when you provoked me, and put me to the test in the wilderness.  Your fathers put me to the test, made trial of me, and saw what I could do, all those forty years. So I became the enemy of that generation; These, I said, are ever wayward hearts, these have never learned my lessons. And I took an oath in my anger, They shall never attain my rest.

Take care, brethren, that there is no heart among you so warped by unbelief as to desert the living God. 

Each day, while the word To-day has still a meaning, strengthen your own resolution, to make sure that none of you grows hardened; sin has such power to cheat us.  

We have been given a share in Christ, but only on condition that we keep unshaken to the end the principle by which we are grounded in him. That is the meaning of the words, If you hear his voice speaking to you this day, do not harden your hearts, as they were hardened once when you provoked me; those who provoked him were the people (some, though not all of them) whom Moses had rescued from Egypt... 

Psalm 94 v10-11

The concluding verses of Psalm 94 deals with the consequences of rejecting God.

10	VL	Quadragínta annis próximus fui generatióni huic, et dixi : semper hi errant corde
	V	quadraginta annis offensus fui generationi illi, et dixi : semper hi errant corde.
	NV	Quadraginta annis taeduit me generationis illius et dixi: Populus errantium corde sunt isti.
	JH	Quadraginta annis displicuit milii generatio illa, et dixi, Populus errans corde est,
		τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη προσώχθισα τῇ γενεᾷ ἐκείνῃ καὶ εἶπα ἀεὶ πλανῶνται τῇ καρδίᾳ καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν τὰς ὁδούς μου

Text notes: The ‘proximus’ of the Old Roman here does, on the face of it, appear to be a mistranslation of the Greek.  Though perhaps not – after all, during the forty years God did indeed keep this generation near, guiding them with the smoke and pillar of flame, despite their sins.

Quadragínta annis= Forty years

próximus fui generatióni huic= I kept this generation near

et dixi= and I said

semper hi errant == always these stray

corde= in the heart

quadraginta, num. adj., forty.

annus, i, m year

proximus, a, um,  very near, close at hand;  neighbour

generatio, onis, a begetting, generating, generation  

semper, adv., ever, always, at all times.

hic, haec, hoc,  this

erro, avi, atum, are, to wander, stray, rove,

cor, cordis, n., the heart, regarded as the seat of the faculties, feelings, emotions, passions; the mind, the soul.

DR	Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and I said: These always err in heart.
NETS	For forty years I loathed that generation and said always do they stray in heart
Cover	Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their hearts

The Catechism offers this explication of the importance of forty:

CCC 539: The evangelists indicate the salvific meaning of this mysterious event: Jesus is the new Adam who remained faithful just where the first Adam had given in to temptation. Jesus fulfils Israel's vocation perfectly: in contrast to those who had once provoked God during forty years in the desert, Christ reveals himself as God's Servant, totally obedient to the divine will. In this, Jesus is the devil's conqueror: he "binds the strong man" to take back his plunder. Jesus' victory over the tempter in the desert anticipates victory at the Passion, the supreme act of obedience of his filial love for the Father.

11	VL	Ipsi vero non cognovérunt vias meas : quibus jurávi in ira mea : si introíbunt in réquiem meam.
	V	et isti non cognoverunt vias meas : ut juravi in ira mea : si introibunt in requiem meam.
	NV	Et ipsi non cognoverunt vias meas; ideo iuravi in ira mea: Non introibunt in requiem meam ”.
	JH	et non cognoscens uias meas : et iuraui in furore meo, ut non introirent in requiem meam.
		ὡς ὤμοσα ἐν τῇ ὀργῇ μου εἰ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσίν μου

Text notes: The si phrase is the form of an oath – if so and so, then…, in this case, they shall not enter into my rest, viz the Promised Land (see Numbers 14:26ff), or as the author of Hebrews makes clear, heaven.

Ipsi vero non cognovérunt=they themselves have not truly known

vias meas= my ways

quibus jurávi = so I swore

in ira mea= in my anger

si introíbunt in réquiem meam= if they will enter into my rest, ie, they will not enter into my rest

verus, a, um, true

cognosco, gnovi, gnitum, ere 3, to know, see, learn, perceive, be come acquainted with.

via, ae, a way, road, path, street. God's way, God's policy, way of life

juro, avi, atum, are, to swear, take an oath

ira, ae, f, anger, wrath

introeo, ivi or ii, itum, ire, to go into, to enter.

requies, ei, /.,  rest;  a resting-place.

DR	And these men have not known my ways: so I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest.
Cover	for they have not known my ways, unto whom I swore in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest.

St Augustine draws out the import of this warning here:

We began with exulting joy: but this Psalm has ended with great fear: Unto whom I swore in My wrath, that they should not enter into My rest Psalm 94:11. It is a great thing for God to speak: how much greater for Him to swear? You should fear a man when he swears, lest he do somewhat on account of his oath against his will: how much more should you fear God, when He swears, seeing He can swear nought rashly? He chose the act of swearing for a confirmation. And by whom does God swear? By Himself: for He has no greater by whom to swear. Hebrews 6:13 By Himself He confirms His promises: by Himself He confirms His threats. Let no man say in his heart, His promise is true; His threat is false: as His promise is true, so is His threat sure. You ought to be equally assured of rest, of happiness, of eternity, of immortality, if you have executed His commandments; as of destruction, of the burning of eternal fire, of damnation with the devil, if you have despised His commandments....

Psalm 94: Venite Exultemus Domino

Vulgate	Psalter (Vetus latina)	Douay-Rheims
Laus cantici ipsi David.		Praise of a canticle for David himself.
1 Venite, exsultemus Domino; jubilemus Deo salutari nostro;	1. Veníte, exsultémus Dómino, jubilémus Deo, salutári nostro:	Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God our saviour.
2 præoccupemus faciem ejus in confessione, et in psalmis jubilemus ei	præoccupémus fáciem ejus in confessióne, et in psalmis jubilémus ei.	2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.
3 quoniam Deus magnus Dominus, et rex magnus super omnes deos.	2. Quóniam Deus magnus Dóminus, et Rex magnus super omnes deos	3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 Quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, et altitudines montium ipsius sunt;	: quóniam non repéllet Dóminus plebem suam : quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, et altitúdines móntium ipse cónspicit.	4 For in his hand are all the ends of the earth: and the heights of the mountains are his.
5 quoniam ipsius est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et siccam manus ejus formaverunt	3. Quóniam ipsíus est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et áridam fundavérunt manus ejus	5 For the sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
6  Venite, adoremus, et procidamus, et ploremus ante Dominum qui fecit nos:	Veníte, adorémus, et procidámus ante Deum : plorémus coram Dómino, qui fecit nos,	6 Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us.
7  quia ipse est Dominus Deus noster, et nos populus pascuæ ejus, et oves manus ejus.	quia ipse est Dóminus Deus noster ; nos autem pópulus ejus, et oves páscuæ ejus.	7 For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
8 Hodie si vocem ejus audieritis, nolite obdurare corda vestra	4. Hódie, si vocem ejus audiéritis, nolíte obduráre corda vestra,	8 Today if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts:
9 sicut in irritatione, secundum diem tentationis in deserto, ubi tentaverunt me patres vestri : probaverunt me, et viderunt opera mea.	sicut in exacerbatióne, secúndum diem tentatiónis in desérto : ubi tentavérunt me patres vestri, probavérunt et vidérunt ópera mea.	9 As in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness: where your fathers tempted me, they proved me, and saw my works.
10 Quadraginta annis offensus fui generationi illi, et dixi : Semper hi errant corde.	5. Quadragínta annis próximus fui generatióni huic, et dixi : Semper hi errant corde ;	10 Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and I said: These always err in heart.
11 Et isti non cognoverunt vias meas : ut juravi in ira mea : Si introibunt in requiem meam.	ipsi vero non cognovérunt vias meas : quibus jurávi in ira mea : Si introíbunt in réquiem meam.	11 And these men have not known my ways: so I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest.

Psalm 94 verses 8-9

Verse 8 of Psalm 94 demands that we not put off repentance, but rather respond now.

It is extremely important to Benedictines due to its citation by St Benedict in his Rule.  The verses remind us of the urgency of conversion, lest we too find ourselves, like those companions of Moses, unable to enter the promised land, and condemned instead to wander the desert eternally.

8	VL/V	Hódie, si vocem ejus audiéritis, nolíte obduráre corda vestra
	NV	Utinam hodie vocem eius audiatis: “ Nolite obdurare corda vestra,
	JH	Hodie, si uocem eius audieritis, nolite indurare corda uestra,
		μὴ σκληρύνητε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν ὡς ἐν τῷ παραπικρασμῷ κατὰ τὴν ἡμέραν τοῦ πειρασμοῦ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ

Text notes:  The speaking voice shifts again here to a prophetic tone.

Hódie=today

si vocem ejus audiéritis=if you shall hear his voice

nolíte obduráre be unwilling to harden

corda vestra=your hearts

hodie, adv.  today

vox, vocis, the voice of a person, or, the sound of an instrument, thunder. 

audio, ivi or li, Itum, ire to hear; to hear gladly; sound forth, utter, announce;  hear favorably, to grant,

nolo, nolui, nolle  to be unwilling, not to wish, to refuse It is generally found in the imperative followed by the infinitive of another verb.

.

DR	Today if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts:
Cover	Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts

Hebrews provides an extended commentary on these verses, pointing out that there are consequences to God’s providential care for us: we are part of a covenantal relationship which means we too have obligations towards God, most importantly not to reject him through sin and unbelief.  Instead, we are called not only to adore God, but to obey his commandments and do good works.  

St Benedict uses this passage to call us to the more intense spiritual life he proposes in his Rule:

Let us arise, then, at last,  for the Scripture stirs us up, saying, "Now is the hour for us to rise from sleep" (Rom. 13:11). Let us open our eyes to the deifying light,  let us hear with attentive ears  the warning which the divine voice cries daily to us, "Today if you hear His voice,  harden not your hearts" (Ps. 94[95]:8).  And again, "Whoever has ears to hear,  hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Matt. 11-15; Apoc. 2:7).

9	VL	Sicut in exacerbatióne, secúndum diem tentatiónis in desérto : ubi tentavérunt me patres vestri, probavérunt et vidérunt ópera mea.
	V	sicut in irritatione, secundum diem tentationis in deserto, ubi tentaverunt me patres vestri : probaverunt me, et viderunt opera mea.
	NV	sicut in Meriba, secundum diem Massa in deserto, ubi tentaverunt me patres vestri: probaverunt me, etsi viderunt opera mea.
	JH	sicut in contradictione, sicut in die temtationis in deserto: ubi temtauerunt me patres uestri, probauerunt me, et uiderunt opus meum.
		οὗ ἐπείρασαν οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν ἐδοκίμασαν καὶ εἴδοσαν τὰ ἔργα μου

Text notes: Britt notes that the MT has: (Harden not your hearts) as at Meribah ( = quarrel, strife), as in the day of Massah ( = temptation) in the wilderness. The Greek translators and St. Jerome took these words for common nouns. He notes that they both designate one and the same place in the desert of Pharan, where the Hebrews, suffering for want of water, murmured against God, Cf. Exod. 17,1-7; Num. 20,1-13.

Sicut in exacerbatione=as in the provocation

secundum diem tentationis=according to the day of temptation

in deserto=in the wilderness.

ubi tentavérunt me=where they tried me

 patres vestry=your fathers

probavérunt= and they tested

et vidérunt ópera mea= and saw my works

sicut, adv., as, just as, like.

exacerbatio, onis, rebellion, disobedience,  an exasperation; in particular the stirring of Divine anger by the Jews in the desert, the provocation.

secundus, a, um following in time or order; the next, the second.

dies, ei, m& f. a day

tentatio, onis, a trial, temptation; an attack.

desertum, i, n., a desert, wilderness.

tento, avi, atum, are, to tempt

pater, tris, m. a father; mostly pi. in the sense of forefathers, ancestors

probo, avi, atum, are to try, to test, prove, examine; to search, prove

video, vidi, vlsum, ere 2,  to see, behold; consider; experience, undergo, suffer, realize; keep watch, look for, meditate on

opus, eris, n., work.

DR	As in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness: where your fathers tempted me, they proved me, and saw my works.
RSV	as at Mer'ibah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
Cover	as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness, when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works.

This verse points to one of the most grievous sins against God, namely putting oneself in a situation and demanding that God rescue us from it.  The Catechism cites this psalm in support of its analysis of the sin:

“Tempting God consists in putting his goodness and almighty power to the test by word or deed. Thus Satan tried to induce Jesus to throw himself down from the Temple and, by this gesture, force God to act. Jesus opposed Satan with the word of God: "You shall not put the LORD your God to the test." The challenge contained in such tempting of God wounds the respect and trust we owe our Creator and Lord. It always harbors doubt about his love, his providence, and his power.” (CCC2219)

The devil of course tempted Our Lord in this way, daring him to throw himself off the heights in order to be rescued by the angels.

Psalm 94: Venite Exultemus Domino

Vulgate	Psalter (Vetus latina)	Douay-Rheims
Laus cantici ipsi David.		Praise of a canticle for David himself.
1 Venite, exsultemus Domino; jubilemus Deo salutari nostro;	1. Veníte, exsultémus Dómino, jubilémus Deo, salutári nostro:	Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God our saviour.
2 præoccupemus faciem ejus in confessione, et in psalmis jubilemus ei	præoccupémus fáciem ejus in confessióne, et in psalmis jubilémus ei.	2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.
3 quoniam Deus magnus Dominus, et rex magnus super omnes deos.	2. Quóniam Deus magnus Dóminus, et Rex magnus super omnes deos	3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 Quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, et altitudines montium ipsius sunt;	: quóniam non repéllet Dóminus plebem suam : quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, et altitúdines móntium ipse cónspicit.	4 For in his hand are all the ends of the earth: and the heights of the mountains are his.
5 quoniam ipsius est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et siccam manus ejus formaverunt	3. Quóniam ipsíus est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et áridam fundavérunt manus ejus	5 For the sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
6  Venite, adoremus, et procidamus, et ploremus ante Dominum qui fecit nos:	Veníte, adorémus, et procidámus ante Deum : plorémus coram Dómino, qui fecit nos,	6 Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us.
7  quia ipse est Dominus Deus noster, et nos populus pascuæ ejus, et oves manus ejus.	quia ipse est Dóminus Deus noster ; nos autem pópulus ejus, et oves páscuæ ejus.	7 For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
8 Hodie si vocem ejus audieritis, nolite obdurare corda vestra	4. Hódie, si vocem ejus audiéritis, nolíte obduráre corda vestra,	8 Today if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts:
9 sicut in irritatione, secundum diem tentationis in deserto, ubi tentaverunt me patres vestri : probaverunt me, et viderunt opera mea.	sicut in exacerbatióne, secúndum diem tentatiónis in desérto : ubi tentavérunt me patres vestri, probavérunt et vidérunt ópera mea.	9 As in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness: where your fathers tempted me, they proved me, and saw my works.
10 Quadraginta annis offensus fui generationi illi, et dixi : Semper hi errant corde.	5. Quadragínta annis próximus fui generatióni huic, et dixi : Semper hi errant corde ;	10 Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and I said: These always err in heart.
11 Et isti non cognoverunt vias meas : ut juravi in ira mea : Si introibunt in requiem meam.	ipsi vero non cognovérunt vias meas : quibus jurávi in ira mea : Si introíbunt in réquiem meam.	11 And these men have not known my ways: so I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest.

And you can find the final part in this series on Psalm 94 here.