Psalm 94 verses 5-7

Verses 5-7 of Psalm 94 praise God for his work of creation, but especially for making us his own people.

5	VL	Quóniam ipsíus est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et áridam fundavérunt manus ejus :
	V/NV	quoniam ipsius est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et siccam manus ejus formaverunt.
	JH	Cuius est mare; ipse enim fecit illud, et siccam manus eius plasmauerunt.
		ὅτι αὐτοῦ ἐστιν ἡ θάλασσα καὶ αὐτὸς ἐποίησεν αὐτήν καὶ τὴν ξηρὰν αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ ἔπλασαν

  

Quóniam ipsíus est mare=for/because the sea is his

et ipse fecit illud=and he himself made it

et áridam =and the dry land

fundavérunt manus ejus= his hands established/formed

mare, is, n., the sea, the ocean.

facio, feci, factum, ere 3,  to make, do, cause, bring to pass

ille, ilia, illud, demon, pron., that; also he, she, it  In the Vulgate ille is frequently used for is or ipse

arida, ae,  dry land

fundo, avi, atum, are to lay the foundation of, to found, establish

DR	For the sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land
Cover	The sea is his, and he made it; and his hands prepared the dry land.

Bellarmine continues with his list of the reason for praising God:

The third reason is, because our God is Lord, not only of the land but of the sea; for it is he who made it, and surrounded it with its sands that confine it as if in a bowl. It is, therefore, most meet that mankind, who derive so many benefits from the sea, should thank and praise him who gave it to them.

6	VL	Veníte, adorémus, et procidámus ante Deum : plorémus coram Dómino, qui fecit nos,
	V	venite, adoremus, et procidamus, et ploremus ante dominum qui fecit nos:
	NV	Venite, adoremus et procidamus et genua flectamus ante Dominum, qui fecit nos,
	JH	Uenite, adoremus et curuemur; flectamus genua ante faciem Domini factoris nostri
	Sept	δεῦτε προσκυνήσωμεν καὶ προσπέσωμεν αὐτῷ καὶ κλαύσωμεν ἐναντίον κυρίου τοῦ ποιήσαντος ἡμᾶς

Text notes: If one views this primarily as a liturgical, processional hymn, then at this point the speaker switches from the community to a choir of priests at the entrance to the Temple, inviting them to enter, making their proper duty to God as they do so.  The Masoretic Text explicitly refers to kneeling (the familiar expression ‘flectamus genua’ often used on more solemn occasions appearing in St Jerome’s translation of the MT) in the second phrase, and New English Translation of the Septuagint (NETS) follows a manuscript that gives a similar flavour.  There is a good case for the alternative Greek manuscript tradition that makes the response tears however (ploremus), and that version of the text has been the one explicitly drawn on in the Western tradition, from St Augustine through to St Robert Bellarmine.

Veníte=come

Adorémus= let us adore

et procidámus=and bow/prostrate [ourselves]

ante Deum=before God

plorémus=let us weep

coram Dómino=in the presence of God

qui fecit nos = who made us

adoro, avi, atum, are,  to worship, adore

coram prep, with abl., in the presence of, before the face of, before.

procido, cidi, ere 3  to fall forward or down, to fall flat.  

ploro, avi, atum, are, to weep, mourn, bewail

DR	Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us
NETS	O come let us do obeisance and prostrate ourselves before him
RSV	O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
Cover	O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Bellarmine's exposition continues:

The fourth reason is, because the same Lord that created the earth and the sea created us men, too, though we are daily offending our Creator by our sins. Come let us adore and fall down and weep, deploring our ingratitude and our sins, "before the Lord that made us;" and, therefore, our Lord by every title, to whom we owe implicit obedience.

7	VL	Quia ipse est Dóminus Deus noster ; nos autem pópulus ejus, et oves páscuæ ejus.
	V	quia ipse est dominus deus noster, et nos populus pascuæ ejus, et oves manus ejus.
	NV	quia ipse est Deus noster, et nos populus pascuae eius et oves manus eius.
	JH	Quia ipse est Deus noster, et nos populus pascuae eius et grex manus eius.
		ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν καὶ ἡμεῖς λαὸς νομῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ πρόβατα χειρὸς αὐτοῦ σήμερον ἐὰν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσητε

Text notes: The psalmist presents once again here the familiar image of God as a shepherd guiding and protecting his flock.

Quia ipse est Dóminus Deus noster=for the Lord himself is our God

nos autem pópulus ejus=and we are his people

et oves páscuæ ejus=and the sheep of his pasture

autem, adversative conj., but, on the contrary, however

populus, i, people

ovis, is,  a sheep

pascua, ae, / lit., a pasture, grass land for cattle to feed upon

DR	For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
Cover	For he is the Lord our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Bellarmine completes his summation of these verses:

This is the fifth and last reason, because the Lord not only made us, but he governs us by a special providence, as a shepherd would the flock that belonged to himself. St. Augustine notices an elegant transposition of words here, for instead of saying we are the people of his hand, and the sheep of his pas¬ture, he connects people with pasture, and sheep with hand; to let us to understand that the people, in respect of God, are like sheep that need a shepherd; yet, still, that they are not sheep devoid of reason, that need to be driven with a staff; and they are called the sheep of his hand, either because he made them, or because he guides them with his hand; for though God's people have shepherds and teachers to feed and to direct them, still he has a peculiar care for them, and does not let them suffer from the negligence or the ignorance, or even the malice of the pastors. Whence we infer that God's people should put great confidence in God, their supreme Pastor, and have recourse to him, through prayer, when they fall in with an unworthy pastor, for God himself says, "I will feed my sheep," Ezech. 34.

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 next part in this series here.

Psalm 94 v 3-4

Verses 3 and 4 of Psalm 94 tell us why we should adore and worship God: firstly because of his greatness, so far above all else; and secondly because of his mercy to his people.

3	VL/V/NV	Quóniam Deus magnus Dóminus, et rex magnus super omnes deos :
	JH	Quoniam fortis et magnus Dominus, et rex magnus super omnes deos.
		ὅτι θεὸς μέγας κύριος καὶ βασιλεὺς μέγας ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς θεούς

Text notes:  ‘Super omens deos’, or setting God above the heathen gods is a conventional phraseology: it does not (Jehovah’s Witnesses notwithstanding!) imply acceptance that there are any other actual gods. Rather, it claims that God is a real God, unlike the false images and other gods worshiped by pagans.

Quóniam Deus magnus Dóminus= For the Lord is a great God

et rex magnus = and a great king

super omnes deos= over all the gods.

magnus, a, um, great, mighty

rex, regis, m.  a king, ruler, lawgiver

DR	For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
Brenton	For the Lord is a great God, and a great king over all gods
Cover	For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

St Robert Bellarmine notes that: 

"He assigns five reasons why God should be praised by us The first is, because our Lord is a great God, far above all other gods; and he is a great King, far higher than all other kings who are sometimes called gods."

4	VL	Quóniam non repéllet Dóminus plebem suam : quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, et altitúdines móntium ipse cónspicit.
	V	quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, et altitudines montium ipsius sunt;
	NV	Quia in manu eius sunt profunda terrae, et altitudines montium ipsius sunt.
	JH	In cuius manu fundamenta terrae, et excelsa montium ipsius sunt.
	Sept	ὅτι ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς καὶ τὰ ὕψη τῶν ὀρέων αὐτοῦ εἰσιν

Text notes: ‘Quoniam non repellet Dominus plebem suam’ may be an interpolation from the previous psalm, however it has long since made its way into ligurgical use here!

Quóniam=for/because

non repéllet Dóminus =the Lord will not reject

plebem suam = his people

quia in manu ejus  = because in his hand

sunt omnes fines terræ=are all the ends of the earth

et altitúdines móntium =and the heights of the mountains

ipse cónspicit = he considers his

repello, puli, pulsum, ere 3, to reject, repel, thrust away, cast off

plebs, plebis, the people.

quia, conj. for, because, that. truly, surely, indeed;

manus, us, the hand

omnis, e, all, each, every; subst., all men, all things, everything

finis, is, m., a boundary, limit, border; territory.  

terra, ae, the earth

altitudo, inis, loftiness, greatness, majesty.

mons, montis, m., a mountain

conspicio, spexi, spectum, ere 3  to look to, consider.

DR	For in his hand are all the ends of the earth: and the heights of the mountains are his.
Brenton	for the Lord will not cast off his people.  For the ends of the earth are in his hands; and the heights of the mountains are his.
Cover	In his hand are all the corners of the earth; and the strength of the hills is his also.

Bellarmine continues:

The second reason is, because God's power is supreme throughout the entire world, whether as to its length, or breadth, or height; and, therefore, all who inhabit the earth are subject to him, and owe him the sacrifice of praise. "For in his hand," in his power, "are all the ends of the earth;" the whole world to its extreme boundaries; "and the heights of the moun¬tains are his;" not only does the whole length and breadth of the land belong to him, but even up to the top of the highest moun¬tains are subject to him. In a very old manuscript, after these words is read a verse from the preceding Psalm, "For the Lord will not cast off his people;" which verse is daily read in the divine office, but it is not in the Hebrew, the Greek, nor in the Vulgate. In the same copy, instead of the words, "the heights of the mountains are his," the version is, "he sees the heights of the mountains;" indicating God's elevation and power.

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.

You cna find the next set of notes on Psalm 94 here.

Psalm 94 v1-2

The opening verses of Psalm 94 are a joyful call to worship, and to sing psalms.  In the Office, the first two verses are said together before the antiphon of the day is repeated.

NB: The notes on the notes post contains a list of all abbreviations and sets out the main sources used to compile these notes.

1	Vetus Latin/ VULGATE/Neo-Vulgate	Veníte, exsultémus Dómino, jubilémus Deo, salutári nostro
	JH (Jerome from the Hebrew)	Uenite, laudemus Dominum: iubilemus petrae lesu nostro.
	Septuagint	ἀγαλλιασώμεθα τῷ κυρίῳ ἀλαλάξωμεν τῷ θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρι ἡμῶν

Many commentators view this is a processional or pilgrimage hymn, with the first five verses being the words of the community chanting a hymn to the might and glory of God.

Veníte (come) exsultémus (let us give praise) Dómino (to the Lord) jubilémus (let us sing/shout joyfully) Deo (to God) salutári (savour) nostro (our)

venio, veni, ventum, ire,  to come.

exsulto, avi, atum, are  to spring, leap, or jump up; to exult, to rejoice exceedingly

jubilo, avi, atum, are  to rejoice, exult, to sing or shout joyfully

salutaris, e  a Savior, Helper, used of God;  help, saving help, rescue, salvation,

DR	Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God our saviour.
Brenton	Come, let us exult in the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to God our Saviour.
RSV	O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Cover	O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.

As the Catechism points out, adoration is our first duty towards God:  


“Adoration is the first attitude of man acknowledging that he is a creature before his Creator. It exalts the greatness of the Lord who made us and the almighty power of the Savior who sets us free from evil. Adoration is homage of the spirit to the "King of Glory" respectful silence in the presence of the "ever greater" God. Adoration of the thrice-holy and sovereign God of love blends with humility and gives assurance to our supplications.” (CCC 2628)

Our joy comes from our knowledge of what God has done for us, and the promise of salvation he offers to us and gives assurance to our supplications.

2	VL/V/NV	Præoccupémus fáciem ejus in confessióne, et in psalmis jubilémus ei.
	JH	Praeoccupemus uultum eius in actione gratiarum,  in canticis iubilemus ei.
	Sept	προφθάσωμεν τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐξομολογήσει καὶ ἐν ψαλμοῖς ἀλαλάξωμεν αὐτῷ

St Augustine notes that ‘confessione’ can have two meanings: “There is a confession of him who praises, there is that of him who groans. The confession of praise pertains to the honour of Him who is praised: the confession of groaning to the repentance of him who confesses.”   Though the word may include this subtext, the parallelism with the second half of the verse suggests that the more positive meaning is the most important in this context.

praeoccupemus  (let us come early/without delay/eagerly) faciem ejus ( [before] his face/presence) in confessione (with/in thanksgiving /acknowledgment) et in psalmis (and with psalms) jubilémus ei (let us sing joyfully to him)

praeoccupo, avi, atum, are,  seize unexpectedly, take by surprise;  come before early or with eagerness,  prevent, anticipate

facies, ei, face, countenance, appearance;  presence

confessio, onis, Prayer, praise, thanksgiving

psalmus, i, m. a sacred song to be sung to the accompaniment of a stringed instrument, a psalm

DR	Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.
Brenton	Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.
Cover	Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and show ourselves glad in him with psalms.

Bellarmine comments:

"This verse may be understood in two ways — one making the Prophet summon us to rise early in the morning to praise God, as if he said: Before others rise let us be first before God and in such spirit does the Church put this Psalm in the begin­ning of matins. The second explanation makes the Prophet tell us to unite an avowal of our own misery with God's mercy making us come before him by acknowledging our sins, previ­ous to his sitting in judgment on them, and punishing us for them; "and make a joyful noise with psalms," in praising the great mercy so extended to us."

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.

You can find the next set of notes in this series here.