Psalm 95: Overview

Psalm 95 is one of the Messianic psalms, foretelling the coming of Christ, and foreshadowing the establishment of his kingdom.   For this reason it features in the Commons of a most types of saints, as well as most major feasts.

The text of the psalm

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Canticum ipsi David, quando domus ædificabatur post captivitatem.	A canticle for David himself, when the house was built after the captivity.

Psalm 95

Cantáte Dómino cánticum novum: * cantáte Dómino, omnis terra.	Sing to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Cantáte Dómino, et benedícite nómini eius: * annuntiáte de die in diem salutáre eius.	Sing to the Lord and bless his name: show forth his salvation from day to day.
Annuntiáte inter gentes glóriam eius, * in ómnibus pópulis mirabília eius.	Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people.
Quóniam magnus Dóminus, et laudábilis nimis: * terríbilis est super omnes deos.	For the Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
Quóniam omnes dii Géntium dæmónia: * Dóminus autem cælos fecit.	For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: but the Lord made the heavens.
Conféssio, et pulchritúdo in conspéctu eius: * sanctimónia et magnificéntia in sanctificatióne eius.	Praise and beauty are before him: holiness and majesty in his sanctuary.
Afférte Dómino, pátriæ géntium, † afférte Dómino glóriam et honórem: * afférte Dómino glóriam nómini eius.	Bring to the Lord, O you kindreds of the Gentiles, bring to the Lord glory and honour:  Bring to the Lord glory unto his name.
Tóllite hóstias, et introíte in átria eius: * adoráte Dóminum in átrio sancto eius.	Bring up sacrifices, and come into his courts: Adore the Lord in his holy court.
Commoveátur a fácie eius univérsa terra: * dícite in Géntibus quia Dóminus regnávit.	Let all the earth be moved at his presence. Say among the Gentiles, the Lord has reigned.
Etenim corréxit orbem terræ qui non commovébitur: * iudicábit pópulos in æquitáte.	For he has corrected the world, which shall not be moved: he will judge the people with justice.
Læténtur cæli, et exsúltet terra: † commoveátur mare et plenitúdo eius: * gaudébunt campi, et ómnia quæ in eis sunt.	Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea be moved, and the fullness thereof: The fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful.
Tunc exsultábunt ómnia ligna silvárum a fácie Dómini, quia venit: * quóniam venit iudicáre terram.	Then shall all the trees of the woods rejoice before the face of the Lord, because he comes: because he comes to judge the earth.
Iudicábit orbem terræ in æquitáte, * et pópulos in veritáte sua.	He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with his truth.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.	Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.	As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Scriptural and liturgical uses of Psalm 95

Psalm 95 appears twice in Scripture: as well as in the book of psalms it can also be found in 1 Chronicles 16:23-33, where it was used as the thanksgiving chant after the transfer of the ark of the covenant to the Temple at Jerusalem.  This history, as well as the title of the psalm, account for its use in the Common for the Dedication of a Church.

St Augustine pointed out that the house of God being built here is not just a physical building though:

Possibly when its title was pronounced, some heard it with wonder. For the Psalm is inscribed: When the house was being built after the Captivity. This title having been prefixed, you were perhaps expecting in the text of the Psalm to hear what stones were hewn from the mountains, what masses were drawn to the spot, what foundations were laid, what beams were placed on high, what columns raised. Its song is of nothing of this kind....It is no such house that is in building; for behold where it is built, not in one spot, not in any particular region. For thus he begins...

Indeed, its Christological interpretation, and thus use of the psalm on Friday (at Matins in both the Roman and Benedictine Offices) would also seem to be ancient, as St Athanasius commented in his letter to Marcellus that it is particularly apt for that day since (through the Passion) 'God's House has been captured and destroyed and then re-built'.  

NT references	Rev 14:3 (1); 1 Cor 8:4-6 (5); Rev 12:12 (11); Rev 19:11(13)
RB cursus	Friday Matins
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc	Nativity, Epiphany, Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity, Christ the King, BVM, Common of Apostles, Common of Virgins. Common of the Dedication of a Church
Roman pre 1911	Friday Matins
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Tuesday Lauds . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)	Lent I Thursday, IN (1, 6), Passion Thursday GR (8), Easter Friday, AL (9); PP 18, CO (8)