Psalm 103: Overview

Psalm 103 is said at Saturday matins in the Benedictine Office, divided into two parts.

It is a poetic retelling of the days of creation, particularly appropriate for reflection on the seventh day, on which Cassiodorus said:

The Prophet, desiring to signify divine mysteries by the order of nature, first sings of the Sacraments of Christ and the Church under the type of the formation of heaven and earth: Praise the Lord, O my soul. In the second part, he enumerates the works of the Lord veiled under divers figures: O Lord, how manifold are Thy works. In the third place, he declares that in the everlasting world he will unceasingly utter the praises of the Lord, which he had made his song, even in his short life here: I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live; I will praise my God while I have my being.

St Alphonsus Liguori summarised it as follows:

According to the interpreters, this psalm presents a brilliant description of the glory of the Saviour as manifested in the works of nature. In it we find a eulogy of the wisdom and of the power that God has, shown forth in creating heaven and earth. The author of the arguments, placed at the head of the psalms in the Compilation of Venice, adds that we learn here how to see nature and the manifold variety of created things.

The text of the psalm 

Psalm 103/1

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Ipsi David.	For David himself.
1 Bénedic ánima mea, Dómino: * Dómine, Deus meus, magnificátus es veheménter.	1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, you are exceedingly great.
2  Confessiónem, et decórem induísti: * amíctus lúmine sicut vestiménto.	You have put on praise and beauty: 2 And are clothed with light as with a garment.
3  Exténdens cælum sicut pellem: * qui tegis aquis superióra ejus.	Who stretches out the heaven like a pavilion: 3 Who covers the higher rooms thereof with water.
4  Qui ponis nubem ascénsum tuum: * qui ámbulas super pennas ventórum.	Who make the clouds your chariot: who walks upon the wings of the winds.
5  Qui facis ángelos tuos, spíritus: * et minístros tuos ignem uréntem.	4 Who make your angels spirits: and your ministers a burning fire
6  Qui fundásti terram super stabilitátem suam: * non inclinábitur in sæculum sæculi.	5 Who have founded the earth upon its own bases: it shall not be moved for ever and ever.
7  Abyssus, sicut vestiméntum, amíctus ejus: * super montes stabunt aquæ.	6 The deep like a garment is its clothing: above the mountains shall the waters stand.
8  Ab increpatióne tua fúgient: * a voce tonítrui tui formidábunt.	7 At your rebuke they shall flee: at the voice of your thunder they shall fear.
9  Ascéndunt montes: et descéndunt campi * in locum, quem fundásti eis.	8 The mountains ascend, and the plains descend into the place which you have founded for them.
10  Términum posuísti, quem non transgrediéntur: * neque converténtur operíre terram.	9 You have set a bound which they shall not pass over; neither shall they return to cover the earth.
11  Qui emíttis fontes in convállibus: * inter médium móntium pertransíbunt aquæ.	10 You send forth springs in the vales: between the midst of the hills the waters shall pass.
12  Potábunt omnes béstiæ agri: * exspectábunt ónagri in siti sua.	11 All the beasts of the field shall drink: the wild asses shall expect in their thirst.
13  Super ea vólucres cæli habitábunt: * de médio petrárum dabunt voces.	12 Over them the birds of the air shall dwell: from the midst of the rocks they shall give forth their voices.
14  Rigans montes de superióribus suis: * de fructu óperum tuórum satiábitur terra :	13 You water the hills from your upper rooms: the earth shall be filled with the fruit of your works:
15  Prodúcens fœnum juméntis: * et herbam servitúti hóminum :	14 Bringing forth grass for cattle, and herb for the service of men.
16  Ut edúcas panem de terra: * et vinum lætíficet cor hóminis :	That you may bring bread out of the earth: 15 And that wine may cheer the heart of man.
17  Ut exhílaret fáciem in óleo: * et panis cor hóminis confírmet.	That he may make the face cheerful with oil: and that bread may strengthen man's heart.
18  Saturabúntur ligna campi, et cedri Líbani, quas plantávit: * illic pásseres nidificábunt.	16 The trees of the field shall be filled, and the cedars of Libanus which he has planted: 17 There the sparrows shall make their nests.
19  Heródii domus dux est eórum: * montes excélsi cervis : petra refúgium herináciis.	The highest of them is the house of the heron.18 The high hills are a refuge for the harts, the rock for the irchins.
20  Fecit lunam in témpora: * sol cognóvit occásum suum.	19 He has made the moon for seasons: the sun knows his going down.
21  Posuísti ténebras, et facta est nox: * in ipsa pertransíbunt omnes béstiæ silvæ	20 You have appointed darkness, and it is night: in it shall all the beasts of the woods go about:
22  Cátuli leónum rugiéntes, ut rápiant: * et quærant a Deo escam sibi.	21 The young lions roaring after their prey, and seeking their meat from God.
23  Ortus est sol, et congregáti sunt: * et in cubílibus suis collocabúntur.	22 The sun arises, and they are gathered together: and they shall lie down in their dens.
24  Exíbit homo ad opus suum: * et ad operatiónem suam usque ad vésperum.	23 Man shall go forth to his work, and to his labour until the evening.
25  Quam magnificáta sunt ópera tua, Dómine! * ómnia in sapiéntia fecísti : impléta est terra possessióne tua.	24 How great are your works, O Lord? You have made all things in wisdom: the earth is filled with your riches.

(divisio)

Psalm 103/2

26  Hoc mare magnum, et spatiósum mánibus: * illic reptília, quorum non est númerus.	25 So is this great sea, which stretcheth wide its arms: there are creeping things without number.
27  Animália pusílla cum magnis: * illic naves pertransíbunt.	Creatures little and great: 26 There the ships shall go.
28  Draco iste, quem formásti ad illudéndum ei: * ómnia a te exspéctant ut des illis escam in témpore.	This sea dragon which you have formed to play therein. 27 All expect of you that you give them food in season.
29  Dante te illis, cólligent: * aperiénte te manum tuam, ómnia implebúntur bonitáte.	28 What you give to them they shall gather up: when you open your hand, they shall all be filled with good.
30  Averténte autem te fáciem, turbabúntur: * áuferes spíritum eórum, et defícient, et in púlverem suum reverténtur.	29 But if you turn away your face, they shall be troubled: you shall take away their breath, and they shall fail, and shall return to their dust.
31  Emíttes spíritum tuum, et creabúntur: * et renovábis fáciem terræ.	30 You shall send forth your spirit, and they shall be created: and you shall renew the face of the earth.
32  Sit glória Dómini in sæculum: * lætábitur Dóminus in opéribus suis :	31 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
33  Qui réspicit terram, et facit eam trémere: * qui tangit montes, et fúmigant.	32 He looks upon the earth, and makes it tremble: he troubles the mountains, and they smoke.
34  Cantábo Dómino in vita mea: * psallam Deo meo, quámdiu sum.	33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
35  Jucúndum sit ei elóquium meum: * ego vero delectábor in Dómino.	34 Let my speech be acceptable to him: but I will take delight in the Lord.
36  Defíciant peccatóres a terra, et iníqui ita ut non sint: * bénedic, ánima mea, Dómino.	35 Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, and the unjust, so that they be no more: O my soul, bless the Lord

Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

NT references	Heb 1:7 (5); Mt 13:31-32; Mk 4:32, Lk 13:19 (13); Acts 14:17(13-17); Mt 24:45-46 (28); Acts 2:14 (31)
RB cursus	Sat matins
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc	Transfiguration
Roman pre 1911	Sat matins
Ambrosian	Fri Matins wk 2
Brigittine	Friday Sext
Maurist	Monday Matins
Thesauris schemas	A: Sat matins; B: Monday Matins ; C: Wed Vespers; D: Tuesday V wk 2
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Sat Sext . 1970:
Byzantine	Kathisma 14/stasis 2
Mass propers (EF)	Pentecost, AL (31) PP 12, CO (14-17) Pentecost, AL (31)

Psalm 38: Overview

Psalm 38 is said at Matins on Monday in the Benedictine office.

St Augustine provided an extended discussion of the title of Psalm 38, which links it to the psalms of ascent (Gradual):

The title of this Psalm, which we have just chanted and proposed to discuss, is, On the end, for Idithun, a Psalm for David himself. Here then we must look for, and must attend to, the words of a certain person who is called Idithun; and if each one of ourselves may be Idithun, in that which he sings he recognises himself, and hears himself speak. For you may see who was called Idithun, according to the ancient descent of man; let us, however, understand what this name is translated, and seek to comprehend the Truth in the translation of the word. According therefore to what we have been able to discover by enquiry in those names which have been translated from the Hebrew tongue into the Latin, by those who study the sacred writings, Idithun being translated is over-leaping them. Who then is this person over-leaping them? Or who those whom he has over-leaped?...For there are some persons, yet clinging to the earth, yet bowed down to the ground, yet setting their hearts on what is below, yet placing their hopes in things that pass away, whom he who is called over-leaping them has over-leaped.

You know that some of the Psalms are entitled, Songs of Degrees; and in the Greek it is obvious enough what the word ‡ ναβαθμῶν means. For ‡ ναβαθμοὶ are degrees (or steps) of them that ascend, not of them that descend. The Latin, not being able to express it strictly, expresses it by the general term; and in that it called them steps, left it undetermined, whether they were steps of persons ascending or descending. But because there is no speech or language where their voices are not heard among them, the earlier language explains the one which comes after it: and what was ambiguous in one is made certain in another. Just then as there the singer is some one who is ascending, so here is it some one who is over-leaping....Let this Idithun come still to us, let him over-leap those whose delight is in things below, and take delight in these things, and let him rejoice in the Word of the Lord; in the delight of the law of the Most High....

St Alphonsus Liguori's summary of the psalm makes the link to the pilgrimage psalms more succinctly:

David speaks here of the pain that he felt and of the silence that he kept when Semei annoyed him with insults. The royal prophet at the same time exposes the reflections that his sins and the vain cares of men suggested to him. Finally, he represents himself as a pilgrim here on earth, and points out to sinners with what sentiments they should be animated in order to do penance.

The text of the psalm

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
In finem, ipsi Idithun. Canticum David.	Unto the end, for Idithun himself, a canticle of David.
1 Dixi: Custódiam vias meas: * ut non delínquam in lingua mea.	I said: I will take heed to my ways: that I sin not with my tongue.
2  Pósui ori meo custódiam, * cum consísteret peccátor advérsum me.	I have set a guard to my mouth, when the sinner stood against me.
3  Obmútui, et humiliátus sum, et sílui a bonis: * et dolor meus renovátus est.	3 I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things: and my sorrow was renewed.
4  Concáluit cor meum intra me: * et in meditatióne mea exardéscet ignis.	4 My heart grew hot within me: and in my meditation a fire shall flame out.
5  Locútus sum in lingua mea: * Notum fac mihi, Dómine, finem meum.	5 I spoke with my tongue: O Lord, make me know my end.
6  Et númerum diérum meórum quis est: * ut sciam quid desit mihi.	And what is the number of my days: that I may know what is wanting to me.
7  Ecce mensurábiles posuísti dies meos: * et substántia mea tamquam níhilum ante te.	6 Behold you have made my days measurable and my substance is as nothing before you.
8  Verúmtamen univérsa vánitas, * omnis homo vivens.	And indeed all things are vanity: every man living.
9  Verúmtamen in imágine pertránsit homo: * sed et frustra conturbátur.	7 Surely man passes as an image: yea, and he is disquieted in vain.
10  Thesaurízat: * et ignórat cui congregábit ea.	He stores up: and he knows not for whom he shall gather these things.
11  Et nunc quæ est exspectátio mea? Nonne Dóminus? * Et substántia mea apud te est.	8 And now what is my hope? Is it not the Lord? And my substance is with you.
12  Ab ómnibus iniquitátibus meis érue me: * oppróbrium insipiénti dedísti me.	9 Deliver me from all my iniquities: you have made me a reproach to the fool.
13  Obmútui, et non apérui os meum, quóniam tu fecísti: * ámove a me plagas tuas.	10 I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because you have done it. 11 Remove your scourges from me.
14  A fortitúdine manus tuæ ego deféci in increpatiónibus: * propter iniquitátem corripuísti hóminem.	The strength of your hand has made me faint in rebukes: 12 You have corrected man for iniquity.
15  Et tabéscere fecísti sicut aráneam ánimam ejus: * verúmtamen vane conturbátur omnis homo.	And you have made his soul to waste away like a spider: surely in vain is any man disquieted.
16  Exáudi oratiónem meam, Dómine, et deprecatiónem meam: * áuribus pércipe lácrimas meas.	13 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear to my tears.
17  Ne síleas: quóniam ádvena ego sum apud te, et peregrínus, * sicut omnes patres mei.	Be no silent: for I am a stranger with you, and a sojourner as all my fathers were.
18  Remítte mihi, ut refrígerer priúsquam ábeam, * et ámplius non ero.	14 O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be no more.

Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

 

NT references	Lk 24:32 (4); Lk 12:21 (10); Jas 4:13-15 (9, 15); Heb 11: 13-16; 1 Peter 2: 11-12 (17)
RB cursus	Monday Matins II, 1+5294 (Septua/Lent)
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc	-
Responsories	Epiphanytide Tues no 1 - 6154
Roman pre 1911	Tuesday Matins
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Tuesday Matins  . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)	-

 

Psalm 36: Overview

In the Benedictine Office, Psalm 36 is divided into two parts, and said on Moday at Matins.

Cassiodorus suggested that:

Its entire point is the correction of manners, for the Church, here introduced as spokeswoman, instructs the human race by her saving commands not to become involved in deadly errors. She deters the wicked with the punishment, and promises rewards to the good. This type of teaching is extremely effective, causing the arrogant to be humbled, and the humble to gain worthy consolation. 

He notes that this is one of the Hebrew alphabetical psalms:

There is also the ordered disposition of the Hebrew alphabet minus the sixteenth letter. As we have already said in earlier discussion, we consider this attributable to those deficient in some degree in the perfection of behaviour of holy men. Since all the Hebrew letters have their meaning, it is perhaps right to believe that an alphabet short of a particular letter does not embrace its meaning either.

 Its structure, he suggests is that:

 First she warns that none should imitate the malevolent. Whatever blessing we should hope for is to be demanded of the Lord, who can both grant what will aid us and bestow what will abide for ever. Six letters of the Hebrew alphabet are contained in this section. In the second part she says that sinners here are tortured by the most severe suffering of envy, for they realise that in their own actions they evince nothing comparably good. This section contains seven letters. In the third part she proclaims that she has never seen a just man abandoned, and she intermingles the punishments of the wicked and the rewards of the good in profitable interchange. This section contains the remaining eight letters.

The text of the psalm

Psalm 36/1  

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Psalmus ipsi David	-
Noli æmulári in malignántibus: * neque zeláveris faciéntes iniquitátem.	Be not emulous of evildoers; nor envy them that work iniquity
Quóniam tamquam fœnum velóciter aréscent: * et quemádmodum ólera herbárum cito décident.	For they shall shortly wither away as grass, and as the green herbs shall quickly fall.
Spera in Dómino, et fac bonitátem: * et inhábita terram, et pascéris in divítiis ejus.	Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land, and you shall be fed with its riches.
Delectáre in Dómino: * et dabit tibi petitiónes cordis tui.	Delight in the Lord, and he will give you the requests of your heart.
Revéla Dómino viam tuam, et spera in eo: * et ipse fáciet.	Commit your way to the Lord, and trust in him, and he will do it.
Et edúcet quasi lumen justítiam tuam: et judícium tuum tamquam merídiem: * súbditus esto Dómino, et ora eum.	And he will bring forth your justice as the light, and your judgment as the noonday. Be subject to the Lord and pray to him.
Noli æmulári in eo, qui prosperátur in via sua: * in hómine faciénte injustítias.	Envy not the man who prospers in his way; the man who does unjust things.
Désine ab ira, et derelínque furórem: * noli æmulári ut malignéris.	Cease from anger, and leave rage; have no emulation to do evil.
Quóniam qui malignántur, exterminabúntur: * sustinéntes autem Dóminum, ipsi hereditábunt terram.	For evildoers shall be cut off: but they that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the land.
Et adhuc pusíllum, et non erit peccátor: * et quæres locum ejus et non invénies.	For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: and you shall seek his place, and shall not find it.
Mansuéti autem hereditábunt terram: * et delectabúntur in multitúdine pacis.	But the meek shall inherit the land, and shall delight in abundance of peace.
Observábit peccátor justum: * et stridébit super eum déntibus suis.	The sinner shall watch the just man: and shall gnash upon him with his teeth.
Dóminus autem irridébit eum: * quóniam próspicit quod véniet dies ejus.	But the Lord shall laugh at him: for he foresees that his day shall come.
Gládium evaginavérunt peccatóres: * intendérunt arcum suum,	The wicked have drawn out the sword: they have bent their bow.
Ut dejíciant páuperem et ínopem: * ut trucídent rectos corde.	To cast down the poor and needy, to kill the upright of heart.
Gládius eórum intret in corda ipsórum: * et arcus eórum confringátur.	Let their sword enter into their own hearts, and let their bow be broken
Mélius est módicum justo, * super divítias peccatórum multas.	Better is a little to the just, than the great riches of the wicked.
Quóniam bráchia peccatórum conteréntur: * confírmat autem justos Dóminus.	For the arms of the wicked shall be broken in pieces; but the Lord strengthens the just.
Novit Dóminus dies immaculatórum: * et heréditas eórum in ætérnum erit.	The Lord knows the days of the undefiled; and their inheritance shall be for ever.
Non confundéntur in témpore malo, et in diébus famis saturabúntur: * quia peccatóres períbunt.	They shall not be confounded in the evil time; and in the days of famine they shall be filled: Because the wicked shall perish.
Inimíci vero Dómini mox ut honorificáti fúerint et exaltáti: * deficiéntes, quemádmodum fumus defícient.	And the enemies of the Lord, presently after they shall be honoured and exalted, shall come to nothing and vanish like smoke.
Mutuábitur peccátor, et non solvet: * justus autem miserétur et tríbuet.	The sinner shall borrow, and not pay again; but the just shows mercy and shall give.
Quia benedicéntes ei hereditábunt terram: * maledicéntes autem ei disperíbunt.	For such as bless him shall inherit the land: but such as curse him shall perish.
Apud Dóminum gressus hóminis dirigéntur: * et viam ejus volet.	With the Lord shall the steps of a man be directed, and he shall like well his way.
Cum cecíderit non collidétur: * quia Dóminus suppónit manum suam.	When he shall fall he shall not be bruised, for the Lord puts his hand under him.
Júnior fui, étenim sénui: * et non vidi justum derelíctum, nec semen ejus quærens panem.	I have been young and now am old; and I have not seen the just forsaken, nor his seed seeking bread.
Tota die miserétur et cómmodat: * et semen illíus in benedictióne erit.	He shows mercy, and lends all the day long; and his seed shall be in blessing

(divisio)

Psalm 36/2

Declína a malo, et fac bonum: * et inhábita in sæculum sæculi.	Decline from evil and do good, and dwell for ever and ever.
Quia Dóminus amat judícium, et non derelínquet sanctos suos: * in ætérnum conservabúntur.	For the Lord loves judgment, and will not forsake his saints: they shall be preserved for ever.
Injústi puniéntur: * et semen impiórum períbit.	The unjust shall be punished, and the seed of the wicked shall perish.
Justi autem hereditábunt terram: * et inhabitábunt in sæculum sæculi super eam.	But the just shall inherit the land, and shall dwell therein for evermore
Os justi meditábitur sapiéntiam, * et lingua ejus loquétur judícium.	The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom: and his tongue shall speak judgment
Lex Dei ejus in corde ipsíus, * et non supplantabúntur gressus ejus.	The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be supplanted.
Consíderat peccátor justum: * et quærit mortificáre eum.	The wicked watches the just man, and seeks to put him to death,
Dóminus autem non derelínquet eum in mánibus ejus: * nec damnábit eum, cum judicábitur illi.	but the Lord will not leave him in his hands; nor condemn him when he shall be judged.
Exspécta Dóminum, et custódi viam ejus: et exaltábit te ut hereditáte cápias terram: * cum períerint peccatóres vidébis.	Expect the Lord and keep his way: and he will exalt you to inherit the land: when the sinners shall perish you shall see.
Vidi ímpium superexaltátum, * et elevátum sicut cedros Líbani.	I have seen the wicked highly exalted, and lifted up like the cedars of Libanus.
Et transívi, et ecce non erat: * et quæsívi eum, et non est invéntus locus ejus.	And I passed by, and lo, he was not: and I sought him and his place was not found.
Custódi innocéntiam, et vide æquitátem: * quóniam sunt relíquiæ hómini pacífico.	Keep innocence, and behold justice: for there are remnants for the peaceable man
Injústi autem disperíbunt simul: * relíquiæ impiórum interíbunt.	But the unjust shall be destroyed together: the remnants of the wicked shall perish.
Salus autem justórum a Dómino: * et protéctor eórum in témpore tribulatiónis.	But the salvation of the just is from the Lord, and he is their protector in the time of trouble.
Et adjuvábit eos Dóminus et liberábit eos: * et éruet eos a peccatóribus, et salvábit eos: quia speravérunt in eo.	And the Lord will help them and deliver and he will rescue them from the wicked, and save them because they have hoped in him.

Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

NT references	Mt 6:33 (4); Mt 6:25 (5) Mt 5:4 (11); Acts 7:54 (12); Heb 11: 7 (31)
RB cursus	Matins Monday I, 4-5
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc	-
Roman pre 1911	Monday Matins
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Tuesday Matins  . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)	-